D.A. Bragg: Woman Indicted For Defrauding Immigrant New Yorkers By Posing As Federal Agent

The Investigation is Ongoing - Call 212-335-3600 If You Are a Victim

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of EDITH CAPELLAN, 54, for allegedly stealing $25,000 from four people who hired her to help them with the immigration process by posing as an IRS agent, immigration agent, and immigration services provider between 2024 and 2026. CAPELLAN is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Immigrant Assistance Services Fraud in the First Degree, and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. [1]

"As alleged, Edith Capellan donned a cloak of legitimacy by impersonating federal agents. She allegedly took advantage of immigrants in need of legal assistance obtaining work permits, permanent residency, and United States citizenship. We allege that she pocketed $25,000 from the very people she promised to help," said District Attorney Bragg. "Our investigation is ongoing - please call us at 212-335-3600 if you may be a victim, regardless of immigration status. Those who prey on New York's vibrant immigrant population will be prosecuted."

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, between May 23, 2024, and June 5, 2026, CAPELLAN stole more than $25,000 from immigrant New Yorkers who hired her to help them with the immigration process. She lured her victims by falsely claiming to be an IRS and Immigration agent who could complete immigration paperwork. The victims gave CAPELLAN thousands of dollars in upfront fees after she falsely guaranteed them positive results such as permanent residency and citizenship. Then CAPELLAN falsely claimed to have submitted applications or taken other steps on her clients' behalf. When victims followed up, CAPELLAN refused to provide documents, receipt numbers, or other evidence that would reveal her fraud. In one instance, she asked a victim to delete the messages they had exchanged. In another, she used one victim's personal identifying information on another victim's paperwork.

Assistant D.A. Dennis Dillon (Financial Frauds Bureau) is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Xavier Martinez (Chief of the Immigrant Affairs Unit), Kofi Sansculotte (Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau) and Judy Salwen (Deputy Chief of the Investigation Division) and Executive Assistant D.A. Jodie Kane (Chief of the Investigation Division).

Defendant Information:

EDITH CAPELLAN

Bayonne, NJ

Charged:

• Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Immigrant Assistance Services Fraud in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count
• Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count

###

[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.