Press Release
PHONY DHS SECURITY AGENT SENTENCED ON IMPERSONATION CHARGES
March 7, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney, Southern District of Florida, Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Steven J. Mocsary, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), announced yesterday's sentencing of defendant Windsey Leonard Neal, 41, following his conviction for impersonating a Department of Homeland Security employee, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912.
Late yesterday in federal court in Miami, United States District Judge Jose E. Martinez sentenced Windsey Leonard Neal to a 36 month term of imprisonment, the statutory maximum punishment provided for by law, followed by one year of supervised release and a $7,500 fine. Moreover, following the defendant's release from prison, he will be remanded into the custody of U.S. immigration authorities for removal proceedings.
As alleged in the indictment, Windsey Leonard Neal, posing as a Department of Homeland Security agent, promised unsuspecting individuals that he could complete and expedite immigration paperwork. In this case, Windsey Leonard Neal would often receive thousands of dollars in exchange for claims of expedited visas, work authorizations, and citizenship and deportation assistance, claiming that he had an inside source who could "fast track" his paperwork and prevent deportations. Soliciting and defrauding in excess of seventy victims, Windsey Leonard Neal completed phony paperwork and made off with approximately $160,000 in alleged "fees" for immigration related paperwork assistance. Needless to say, because Windsey Leonard Neal was not an employee of the Department of Homeland Security, none of his victims ever received any immigration related assistance.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marc Anton.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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