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SALT LAKE CITY -- Federal agents arrested a man accused of masterminding a scam that targeted immigrants in Salt Lake City.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports Hillmar Ivan Jerez, 37, is accused of pretending to be an immigration agent and conning people who wanted to be legal residents. He met some of the victims at LDS Church meetings.
Investigators say he would charge victims $1,500 to $5,000, keep the money and do nothing to help them in the legalization process.
A complaint that has been unsealed tells the stories of five alleged victims. One woman says Jerez threatened to have her child deported if she didn't have sex with him.
Another, who repaired Jerez's computer, claims he found multiple files on it with titles like, "How to Manipulate People," "Terrorist Handbook/Bomb Making," and "How to Kill Someone Without Getting Caught."
One of the alleged victims tipped off authorities in January.
Jerez faces up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
