Four accused of duping immigrants

LOS ANGELES - Four people were charged with taking money from immigrants seeking to become U.S. citizens and then staging bogus naturalization ceremonies complete with fake judges. <br> <br> A yearlong investigation dubbed ``Operation Charade&#39;&#39; led to the arrests Tuesday of Elzbieta Malgorzata Bugajska, 50; John Patrick Bradley, 56; Yolanda Miel Lubiano, 62; and Lorena Velasquez Garcia, 39, a 15-year employee of the Social Security Administration. <br> <br> Most of the victims were Koreans and Filipinos who were promised that their immigration applications would receive fast-track processing. <br> <br> The scam included giving victims a quiz on American history and politics and leading them in the Pledge of Allegiance during staged ceremonies, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cowan said. Some of those who were duped paid as much as $25,000, authorities said. <br> <br> Immigration and Naturalization Service investigators said victims told them of a swearing-in ceremony at Lubiano&#39;s home in October 2000. At the ceremony, Bradley wore a judge&#39;s robe and conferred ``citizenship&#39;&#39; on 14 people, authorities said. <br> <br> Authorities also accused Bugajska of selling immigrants genuine Social Security cards, allegedly obtained from Garcia, for $750. <br> <br> All four defendants are charged with one count of mail fraud, and Bugajska and Bradley are also charged with impersonating federal judges. <br> <br> Bugajska, a Polish citizen, is the suspected leader of the scheme. She masqueraded as an immigration consultant named ``Jerry Ann Mitchell,&#39;&#39; Cowan said. <br> <br> The indictment alleges the ring defrauded at least 25 immigrants, but investigators believe there may be many more.

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