East Providence Businesswoman Charged with Visa

Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft

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Justice Department - U.S. Attorneys Offices Press Releases
U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Rhode Island
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
East Providence Businesswoman Charged with Visa Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft
PROVIDENCE -- An East Providence businesswoman who allegedly arranged for eight Columbian Vallenato
musicians to obtain work visas to enter the United States, purportedly to work in the performing arts industry, has
been charged in federal court with visa fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney
Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged in documents (http://www.doj.gov/usao-ri/press-release/file/1580386/download)filed with the court that
Yaneth Yanitza Caicedo Grandos, operator of Tu Voz Es Musica ("TVEM"), a music talent school she operates out
of her residence, created and provided false itinerary information on work visa applications submitted to United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of each of the musicians. Included with each
application were contracts on TVEM letterhead that described agreements TVEM had with venues in seven states,
including Rhode Island, where the Vallenato musicians were scheduled to perform.
According to information presented to the court, a review by Homeland Security Investigations of the contracts
submitted with the visa applications to USCIS revealed discrepancies, including, for example, similar looking
signatures on six contracts with five different venues. It is alleged that venue managers/owners whose names and
signatures appear on the contracts did not authorize nor endorse the information; and that venue operators
confirmed that the Vallenato musicians had not performed nor were scheduled to perform at their respective venues.
As further alleged in court documents, this matter came to the attention of federal authorities when an East
Providence resident provided information that Caicedo Grandos restricted the movements of the Columbian
musicians, forced them to sleep on the floor of an apartment from which they have since been evicted, attempted to
confiscate their passports, and threatened them with immigration consequences.
Yaneth Yanitza Caicedo Grandos, charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with visa fraud and aggravated
identity theft, made an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Lincoln D. Almond on Tuesday and
was released on unsecured bond.
Work visas issued to eight Vallenato musicians have been revoked by the U.S. Department of State.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven
guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
Contact:
Jim Martin (401) 709-5357
Press Release Number:
23-46
Updated April 19, 2023

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Subject: Passports &visas; Musicians &conductors; Immigration; Identity theft; Fraud; Public
prosecutors

Business indexing term: Subject: Identity theft

Location: United States--US; Rhode Island

Company / organization: Name: US Citizenship &Immigration Services; NAICS: 928120

Publication title: Department of Justice (DOJ) Documents / FIND; Washington

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: Apr 19, 2023

Publisher: Federal Information &News Dispatch, LLC

Place of publication: Washington

Country of publication: United States, Washington

Publication subject: Law

Source type: Report

Language of publication: English

Document type: News

ProQuest document ID: 2803517015

Document URL: https://www.proquest.com/reports/east-providence-businesswoman-charged-with-

visa/docview/2803517015/se-2?accountid=14872

Copyright: Copy right Federal Information &News Dispatch, LLC Apr 19, 2023

Last updated: 2023-04-20

Database: Criminal Justice Database

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