Prison For NY Man Who Scammed D.R. Immigrants
NEW YORK (AP) -- A man accused of posing as a federal immigration agent to cheat Dominican immigrants out of about $24,000 is headed to a New York prison for two to six years.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office says Rafael Masso was sentenced Tuesday in a Manhattan court. He pleaded guilty last month to charges including grand larceny.
His lawyer didn't immediately return a telephone call Tuesday.
Prosecutors said the 28-year-old Masso carried a gun, handcuffs and an official-looking shield to bolster his phony claim of authority. They said he pretended to look up victims' immigration status and told them he could expedite green card applications.
Prosecutors said the immigrants paid as much as $11,000 apiece and invited Masso to dinner with their families.
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