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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

ICE lawyer in Seattle charged with stealing immigrants’ IDs

Associated Press

SEATTLE – A lawyer for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Seattle has been charged with stealing immigrants’ identities.

Raphael Sanchez, identified as ICE’s chief counsel in Seattle, faces one count of aggravated identity theft and another of wire fraud in a charging document filed Monday in U.S. District Court.

Prosecutors with the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section allege that Sanchez stole the identities of seven people “in various stages of immigration proceedings” to defraud credit card companies including American Express, Bank of America and Capital One.

Sanchez’s lawyer, Cassandra Stamm, did not immediately return an email seeking comment Tuesday. The court’s calendar showed that Sanchez is due to enter a plea Thursday.