Five Redwood City and San Francisco residents have been charged for allegedly faking robberies to apply for U-visas allowing them to remain in the country, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
Huritzy Gomez-Quiroz, 47, and Ramon Ramirez-Mendez, 45, who are husband and wife, allegedly arranged to be fake robbed at an ATM in Daly City Sept. 16, according to the DA’s Office. Orbelina Carranza-Quintanilla, 47, also allegedly arranged to be fake robbed and carjacked later that day at an ATM on Woodside Road.
Rickson Rodriguez-Contreras, 32, and Victor Canoruiz, 45, are both charged with helping to facilitate the false robberies, which Wagstaffe said were reported to 911 after they were staged.
After police became suspicious and began to investigate the robberies, one of the individuals told the police about the scheme, Wagstaffe said.
The defendants had allegedly planned the crimes to apply for U-visas, which victims of crimes can apply for if they assist law enforcement in investigation of criminal activity, Wagstaffe said.
“These five people decide we’re going to game the system — that’s really wrong,” he said. “It’s taking advantage of time in our society when people are feeling very vulnerable.”
Preliminary hearing in the case has been postponed to March 26, Wagstaffe said.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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