Federal prosecutors have charged three Guatemalan nationals in connection with an alleged conspiracy to bring unaccompanied migrant children into the United States through fraudulent sponsorship arrangements, a case Justice Department officials say highlights broader concerns about the treatment and placement of vulnerable minors.
The unsealed federal indictment in Ohio names siblings Maritza Azucena Cahuec Coc, 38, and Carlos Agustin Cahuec Coc, 33, alongside Gladys Marina Caal Chen, 20. Authorities allege that between December 2020 and October 2023, the siblings repeatedly deceived the Office of Refugee Resettlement by submitting forged birth certificates, stolen identities, and fabricated family documentation to secure custody of minors. According to investigators, Chen was initially smuggled into the country herself under a fraudulent sponsorship before being recruited to help expand the operation. The indictment includes counts related to conspiracy, false statements, identity theft and immigration offenses.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche characterized the enterprise as a coordinated ring that exploited federal placement policies for financial gain, noting that during a recent search of a Cleveland residence, agents discovered multiple adults and at least four children living alongside evidence of diverted wages. “Oftentimes, the children were abused, assaulted and certainly exploited,” Blanche said during a press briefing. “In some cases, individuals would sponsor multiple children, which required them to lie on to government personnel and on government forms claiming they were close relatives when in fact they were not.” Federal officials contend that some minors placed through fraudulent sponsorships have later become victims of labor exploitation, human trafficking or sexual abuse. The Justice Department said investigators have identified thousands of cases nationwide that warrant additional review.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Refugee Resettlement said their review uncovered tens of thousands of cases involving missing background checks, absent safety screenings or repeated use of the same addresses for sponsor placements. The agencies also pointed to longstanding concerns raised in prior federal investigations involving unaccompanied children and fraudulent sponsorship applications.
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