Thread: NC: Mount Airy woman arrested on fraud in bogus visa scheme

Mount Airy woman arrested on fraud in bogus visa scheme

Published: Thursday, August 14, 2008 10:54 PM CDT
Thomas Smith

Staff Reporter

A Mount Airy woman is in custody and charged with three counts of obtaining property under false pretense amid accusations she defrauded subjects out of more than $65,000 while promising to help them with obtaining a United States visa.

A Surry County deputy and a county animal control officer were injured when they were bitten by two pit bulls when serving a search warrant in the case.

Yolanda Delarosa Reyes, 43, of 187 Westwind Court, Mount Airy, was charged with one count of obtaining property by false pretense. Reyes was transported to the Surry County detention center and has been served with three additional counts of obtaining property by false pretense. Her bond is set at $100,000.

She was charged with the offenses after a search of her home turned up evidence authorities said supported the accusations. The search warrant was executed by members of the Surry County Sheriff’s Office, Greensboro Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Surry County Animal Control.

While executing the search warrant, Sgt. Gerald Lefevre and Surry County Animal Control Officer Garland Creel both sustained minor injuries during the search when bitten by the dogs. Both were transported to the Surry County Health Department for treatment. The two animals were seized by Surry County Animal Control and quarantined.

In most cases, citizens of foreign countries are required to have a visa to enter into the United States. According to a government Web site, a visa does not permit entry into the United States, it only indicates that a potential applicant’s application has been reviewed by a U.S. official at an American embassy or consulate and that the officer has determined the applicant is eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.

A visa allows the applicant to travel to the United States as far as the port of entry and ask the immigration officer to allow entry into the country. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit entry into the United States. They also decide how long the applicant can stay for any particular visit.

No other details were available on the case Thursday night.

Contact Thomas Smith at tsmith@mtairynews.com or 719-1930.

http://www.mtairynews.com/articles/2...ws/local02.txt

In most cases, citizens of foreign countries are required to have a visa to enter into the United States. According to a government Web site, a visa does not permit entry into the United States, it only indicates that a potential applicant’s application has been reviewed by a U.S. official at an American embassy or consulate and that the officer has determined the applicant is eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.

A visa allows the applicant to travel to the United States as far as the port of entry and ask the immigration officer to allow entry into the country. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit entry into the United States. They also decide how long the applicant can stay for any particular visit.

SOUND CORRECT TO ME