BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS
A Brownsville man and woman admitted selling membership in a non-recognized Indian tribe as part of a fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, officials stated.
Humberto Reveles, 60, and Maria Isabel Lerma, 32, claimed that being a tribe member would prevent deportation, allow people to travel within and work in the country, despite not having a legal immigration status, officials said.
Reveles was the chief, and later grand chief, of the tribe. Lerma was initially hired as a secretary and assisted Reveles in carrying on the scheme, officials said.
Lerma plead guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen. Reveles entered his plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald G. Morgan on March 17, officials said.
The two are facing up to 20 years in prison.
Here are the allegations surrounding this case, according to officials:
- Reveles opened an office where he would meet with prospective tribe members, in addition to holding informational meetings.
- Prospective tribe members would pay Reveles or his employees and were to receive tribal naturalization certificates, tribal identification cards and tribal drivers’ licenses.
- The documents were to be presented in support of the false immigration claims underlying the scheme. The certificates and cards displayed the words “U.S. Department of State authentication #04010010-1,” even though that number referred to a state of Georgia document and did not refer to the Yamassee tribe.
- The Yamassee tribe not a federally-recognized Indian tribe nor recognized by the U.S. Department of State.
Reveles is set for sentencing June 22, while Lerma is set for Sept. 8.