Man Gets 27 Months for Immigration Fraud

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A Manassas resident has been convicted of immigration fraud and sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.

Federal prosecutors say Fredy Lopez, who is from El Salvador, was running a company that submitted fraudulent immigration-related documents to help illegal immigrants obtain documentation, such as green cards.

Lopez, who operated Lopez Enterprises in Manassas, agreed to forfeit $275,000 of his illegal proceeds that he collected from illegal immigrants who paid large fees for the fake documents.

Lopez also used the company as a vehicle to file false applications to assist aliens from El Salvador in receiving temporary protected status, prosecutors say.

Previously, four of Lopez's employees were sentenced.

Maria "Jackie" Grimaldi of Prince William County, Va., was sentenced to five months for her role in the conspiracy to commit immigration fraud.

Irvin Benavides, Ruben Castenada, and Patricia Castenada pleaded guilty to immigration fraud connected to their on immigration applications. All three were sentenced to time served at the time of their plea hearings.

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