C.B.P. News Release

New York CBP Officers Make Second Arrest in California Mortgage Fraud Case

(Thursday, August 20, 2009)

Niagara Falls, N.Y. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the apprehension of a second individual wanted in California on Felony Mortgage Fraud charges.

Mary Margaret Del Vecchio, a 28-year-old U.S. citizen from San Jose, Calif., was arrested on August 19, by CBP officers at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Del Vecchio was deported from Canada on this date by Canada Border Services agents after violating her visitor status. Del Vecchio is wanted in San Jose, Calif., on nine felony counts involving theft of personal information, false personation and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Del Vecchio admitted today that she is the girlfriend of Amir Rashidifar, who was arrested by CBP officers on August 13, for similar outstanding warrants in California. Both Del Vecchio and Rashidifar had been living under false identities in the Toronto area before being detected by Canadian authorities attempting to receive false documents in the mail. Del Vecchio and Rashidifar were in business together operating Legal Support Services, the now defunct mortgage foreclosure prevention service company in San Jose.

“We continue to work closely with CBSA to apprehend persons who are the subject of an outstanding warrant. These efforts contribute to the safety and security of our communities on both sides of the border,â€