Former ICE lawyer pleads guilty to stealing immigrants’ identities

A former attorney for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has pleaded guilty after being accused of stealing immigrants’ identities.

Raphael Sanchez — who served as ICE’s chief counsel in Seattle — was charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said in a statement that it is the job of federal immigration authorities to “ensure the honest enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws.”

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Sanchez, he said, “betrayed that solemn responsibility.”

The defense and prosecution will recommend Sanchez receive a four-year sentence under a plea agreement, The Seattle Times reported.

Justice Department prosecutors say Sanchez stole the identities of seven people who were “in various stages of immigration proceedings.” He stole the identities to defraud credit card companies such as Bank of America and Capital One.

Defense attorney Cassandra Stamm in a statement Thursday referred to Sanchez as “a good person who has made serious mistakes,” the Seattle Times reported.

“He has voluntarily surrendered to effectively begin serving his forthcoming sentence of imprisonment today,” she added. “Mr. Sanchez looks forward to to fully repaying all those affected by his crimes.”