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Posted on Sat, Oct. 11, 2008


3 accused of victimizing immigrants

By Nancy Petersen

Inquirer Staff Writer
Three people charged with operating a fraudulent life-insurance and vehicle-leasing business in Chester County that targeted illegal immigrants were arrested this week by state police.

> George Bradford, 46, of Downingtown, and Richard Weaver, 78, of Coatesville, turned themselves in to state police yesterday, said Lauren C. Bozart, spokeswoman for state Attorney General Tom Corbett. Linda Escobedo, 42, of Kinzers, Lancaster County, was taken into custody on Thursday at her office, Bozart said.

> The arrests followed a two-year probe by the state police and the Attorney General's Office.

> According to the attorney general, Escobedo and Bradford owned the A-Affordable Insurance Agency of Thorndale.

> They were charged with marketing a fraudulent leasing scheme that allowed people - primarily illegal immigrants without valid driver's licenses or other identification - to secure vehicle registrations, tags, and licenses allowing them to drive in Pennsylvania.

> "Urgent!! Don't loose sales because of PennDOT's latest bulletin! Your Mexican clients (and your sales will suffer!)" said one circular that A-Affordable distributed to car dealers and illegal immigrants, according to Corbett.

> Corbett said in a release that the agency falsely told the state Department of Transportation that it owned the cars, and then leased them back to the illegal immigrants for a fee. Weaver, a car dealer and notary, helped in the scheme by falsifying information to get the license plates, Corbett said.

> A-Affordable also required the illegal immigrants to buy international driver's licenses, which are not legal licenses. Hundreds of people were allegedly taken in by the scheme, Corbett said.

> According to Pennsylvania law, people without a current Pennsylvania driver's license may not get vehicles titled and registered, said Corbett.

> To get around this limitation, he said, A-Affordable allegedly submitted fraudulent title and registration paperwork to PennDot identifying itself as the owner of the cars and used Escobedo's driver's license. The cars were then "leased" back to the illegal immigrants for a fee, Corbett said.

> The agency also issued bogus life-insurance policies that allowed it to reap approximately $300,000 in illegal commissions.

> "This is a pretty involved case, and the investigation is ongoing," Bozart said. "We will continue to look in all directions for anyone who might possibly be involved."

> Escobedo, Bradford and Weaver were charged with multiple counts of fraud, theft by deception, forgery and other crimes.

> They were arraigned yesterday before District Judge James J. Charley in Thorndale and released on $50,000 bail, Bozart said. A preliminary hearing is set for October 20.

> Each of the three faces up to a 190-year prison sentence and up to a $390,000 fine if convicted on all counts, Corbett said.

>
Contact staff writer Nancy Petersen at 610-696-4932 or npetersen@phillynews.com.



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