Crackdown on Mala Fide Visa Applicants and Document Brokers

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SANTO DOMINGO 001620

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR CA/FPP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS KFRD ASEC SMIG DR
SUBJECT: Crackdown on Mala Fide Visa Applicants and Document Brokers
Results in a String of Arrests

REF: A) SANTO DOMINGO 001235; B) SANTO DOMINGO 000527
C) SANTO DOMINGO 001606

1) (U) Summary: Santo Domingo's Consular Section recently
implemented an active strategy to inhibit visa fixers and document
brokers. Working in conjunction with local authorities, post's
Fraud Prevention Unit (FPU),the Assistant RSO Investigator
(ARSO-I) and a local National Police (PN) officer assigned to the
consular section have effected the arrest and successful
prosecution of nearly three dozen Dominicans involved in the
production and/or use of fraudulent documents. Thorough
investigations and increased cooperation with the host country
government agencies involved in these operations have resulted in
an effective deterrent to criminal activity in consular related
fraud. This cable outlines the strategy used by post and provides
several examples of its successful implementation. END SUMMARY.





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BACKGROUND

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2) (SBU) As we discussed in our previous bi-annual consular fraud
summaries (ref A and B),the ready availability of fraudulent
documents and the energetic efforts of visa-fixers complicate visa
adjudication in Santo Domingo. In the past, even when we
discovered fraud in a visa or passport application, we held little
hope of successfully prosecuting mala fide applicants much less the
originators of the fraud. In this environment of high demand and
little deterrent, illegal document brokers and visa fixers (known
locally as "buscones") have flourished, comfortable with their
predictable impunity from police action - until now.





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COOPERATION THE KEY TO SUCCESS

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3) (U) Our consular section has united a fraud prevention team
consisting of the FPU Manager and LES Investigators, the A/RSO-I,
and a vetted PN officer assigned to the consular section through
the RSO office. The dedicated PN officer, a somewhat unique
colleague, has been a tremendous asset, supporting the A/RSO-I and
FPU in a variety of ways. FPU Investigators often benefit from the
presence of a local law enforcement officer during questioning. In
cases where a subject is found to have violated local laws (for
example possessing multiple identity documents) the PN officer
gathers necessary evidence and arranges an immediate arrest. He
may also transport persons found using fraudulent documents
directly to the nearby PN Anti-Fraud Department to make formal
complaints against those who provided them with document packages.
In several cases his involvement has enabled the arrest of document
vendors and/or visa-fixers in meetings set up outside of the
consular section.



4) (U) Over the past few months the ARSO-I and dedicated PN
officer fostered a positive working relationship with the PN
Anti-Fraud Department that has allowed investigations begun in the
consular section to be seamlessly transferred to local police for
arrests. The pair have developed a similar relationship with a
local public prosecutor who is eager to accept our carefully
documented, well prepared, "easy win" cases. Several of these
arrests have received press coverage and post's fraud prevention
strategy includes public outreach efforts which will be reported
septel.

SANTO DOMI 00001620 002 OF 003


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THE RESULTS

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5) (SBU) Since November, post's FPU, the A/RSO-I and our
dedicated PN officer have coordinated the arrests of 35 individuals
involved in fraudulent activities related to U.S. visas and/or
passports. These include the arrests of 11 mala fide visa
applicants, 20 document vendors and/or visa-fixers, 2 persons with
counterfeit visas, and 2 persons with fraudulent (photo-sub) U.S.
passports. Although some of these criminals are released in 24
hours pending further investigation, the arrests send a strong
message to the public that fraud is not taken lightly and may lead
to serious consequences.



6) (SBU) Details concerning some of these arrests follow:



a. On November 3, 2009, a member of the Dominican Chess Federation
was arrested after providing a group of NIV applicants with
fraudulent letters stating that they were members of the Federation
and were going to attend a tournament in Miami. Applicants had
agreed to pay amounts up to $9,000 USD if/when they were issued
visas. The document broker was sentenced to three months
preventative custody while the case is developed.



b. On November 25, FPU pre-screening of applicants in the NIV
waiting area revealed two applicants with suspect documents. During
interviews with FPU investigators and the dedicated PN officer, the
applicants confessed that their job letters, bank statements and
birth certificates were all fraudulent. Both applicants paid the
same anonymous vendor $695 USD for the documents and each were to
pay an additional $6,000 USD after receiving the visas. A
middle-man working for the vendor was identified by the two
applicants and arrested while waiting outside the consular section.
The case is still under investigation by the PN Anti-Fraud
Department and the local district attorney's office with the
middle-man sentenced to preventive custody.



c. On November 25, the HR Manager of a large computer systems
company was arrested and charged for providing fraudulent
employment letters to multiple visa applicants. FPU Investigators
contacted the company President after noting inconsistencies in
cases that the HR Manager had confirmed.

FPU persuaded the company President to press charges and the ARSO-I
facilitated her complaint with a local public prosecutor's office.
The HR manager was arrested and is on parole as the case is
prepared for trial.



d. On November 30, an employee of an auto parts company provided
fraudulent job letters to two relatives applying for NIVs. These
documents were caught during FPU pre-screening and the applicants
admitted the fraud when questioned by investigators. FPU and
ARSO-I worked with the owner of the company to press charges
against the employee and an arrest warrant was issued. On December
7 the document-broker appeared at the consulate in response to a
ruse and was arrested.



e. On December 2, three NIV applicants were arrested for
presenting fraudulent job letters, bank statements and other
documents. All the applicants obtained these documents from a
broker known only as "El Rubio" and paid 35,000 RD (approximately
970 USD) each for the packet. FPU and ARSO-I investigation of
phone records enabled identification of "El Rubio" which the
applicants confirmed by photo. The ARSO-I then facilitated
applicants filing of a complaint, bringing charges against the
broker. An arrest warrant has been issued for this previously
known, but unidentified document broker. At the same time, his
current visa was revoked before he could leave the country.

SANTO DOMI 00001620 003 OF 003


f. On November 16 and 24, the Anti-Fraud Department of the
National Police (PN) carried out an operation against document
vendors and visa-fixers, known locally as "buscones" working in the
vicinity of the Consular Section. The PN arrested a total of 13
persons and impounded one mobile bus set up with computers,
internet access, photo services, etc. used to facilitate their
activities. Ref C details these operations as well as other post
efforts against "buscones."



g. All of the fraudulent U.S. visas and passports caught in the
last two months were initially reported to the FPU by GODR
Immigration. After authorities intercepted the bearers attempting
to enter/exit the country they alerted the FPU so that the cases
could be investigated quickly allowing for formal arrest and
processing.





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GOOD TEAMWORK LEADS TO SUCCESS

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7) (U) We are fortunate to have an outstanding LES and FSO
consular team supporting our fraud prevention efforts. FPU
personnel and ARSO-I along with the dedicated PN officer cooperate
fully, working together to uncover cases of fraud, investigate
document rings and sources of fraud, and pursue arrests and
prosecution to the fullest extent possible. The FPU/ARSO-I
office's increased cooperation with the National Police, GODR
Immigration and local public prosecutors has allowed for the arrest
and prosecution of persons involved in consular-related fraud.
Without the relationships established with host government
officials, it would be impossible to see such progress. Post will
continue to develop strategies to combat fraud and coordinate with
local authorities to pursue visa-fixers and document brokers in the
Dominican Republic.



LAMBERT
Lambert