YONKERS, New York (WABC) — Juan Cedillo, 69, was arrested on July 8 in Olympia, Washington, for allegedly scamming undocumented immigrants through an elaborate scheme. He was extradited to Westchester County on Wednesday night.
Cedillo’s arrest comes after a lengthy investigation by the Yonkers Police Department that began in 2019. He is accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from his victims.
Authorities say he specifically targeted undocumented immigrants, particularly parents of U.S.-born children, by claiming he could secure visas and a path to citizenship for $8,000. Experts indicate that such promises are common in immigration scams.
“They may impersonate a government official, saying you need to pay this amount of money to move your asylum case forward,” noted Elizabeta Markuci from Catholic Charities.
In November 2019, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office announced that a grand jury returned an 87-count indictment against Cedillo. Initially, he was sent to Westchester County Jail on a $25,000 bail. However, after his release in 2020, he made several virtual court appearances but failed to appear in person when required.
Catholic Charities, which has assisted Cedillo’s alleged victims, provided crucial advice: “Don’t pay cash to anyone offering immigration help. Without a paper trail, there’s no way to prosecute, and it’s uncommon for a lawyer to request cash.”
Cedillo was offered a plea deal of one and a third to four years in prison, but he may now face additional bail jumping charges and a longer sentence if convicted. He is currently being held without bail.