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ICE attorney in Seattle pleads guilty to stealing immigrants' IDs, setting up credit cards

By John Knicely
By John Knicely

Raphael Sanchez was firm in his agreement Thursday as a federal judge in Seattle read through felony wire fraud and ID theft charges.

Sanchez served as the top lawyer for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency’s Seattle office.

He admitted to stealing the identities of seven immigrants under his watch and setting up credit cards in their names to steal more than $190,000.

The 44-year-old also admitted to claiming three of the immigrants as dependents on his tax return.

“It's just mind numbing,” said Matt Adams, with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. “It just reaffirms this image that everything is stacked against the immigrant,”

Sanchez pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.  He could face 32 years in prison, but in the plea deal, the U.S. attorney agreed to recommend four years.  The judge doesn’t have to follow that recommendation.

Sanchez must pay back the money he stole and pay for credit monitoring for the victims.

Some think this is the tip of the iceberg.  Mark Nerheim is an attorney and a member of the Washington Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.  He attended Thursday’s hearing.

“Whitewash,” Nerheim said.  “They alluded during their presentation there was potential evidence of many other crimes, potentially.”

He also pointed out that Thursday's guilty plea doesn't stop U.S. attorneys in other jurisdictions from seeking charges.

There's no way to tell what he did or had access to from this plea agreement.

Sanchez's attorney gave KIRO 7 a statement that said Sanchez makes no excuses and has immense regret.

It will be a while before he sees the light of day as a free man. He agreed to be taken into custody until his May 11 sentencing.

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