Update #2, 02/09/2017: The suspect has been identified as Eddi Bueno-Cabrera (age 46).  It was learned that Eddi is originally from the Dominican Republic.  According to records, Eddi is a convicted felon and had been deported 3 times in the past. 

Additional victims have come forward claiming to have been scammed by the fake illegal attorney.  But, the lead investigator fears that there are still victims who have not reported this crime. 

Eddi Bueno-Cabrera has 6 warrants for his arrest, but additional warrants could be added if more victims come forward.  His whereabouts are still unknown. 

Warrants:

• Theft by Deception x 3
• Unauthorized Practice of Law x 3

If anyone knows where Eddi can be found, please contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300.  To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org.  You can also text your tip to “Crimes” (274637).  Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.  Case Number: 16-115968 

Update #1, 02/06/2017: The lead investigator assigned to this case has been informed that there are many more victims that were scammed by this fake attorney.  He learned that the suspect had a vendor stand at the Pendergrass Flea Market (5641 US Hwy 129N, Pendergrass, Georgia) and was advertising himself as an Immigration Attorney.  He was offering legal services to the immigrant population.  Victims have come forward claiming that they were reluctant to report the crime because of their immigration status. 

The suspect has still not been positively identified and his whereabouts are unknown.  The detective is aware of several aliases that he is using, but his true legal name is still unknown. 

“On behalf of the Gwinnett County Police Department, we would like to reiterate that regardless of a victim’s immigration status, we urge anyone who was scammed by this suspect to come forward with information about the incident.  Our objective is to stop this suspect from continuing to victimize and exploit individuals seeking legal status in this country,” said Detective Cultarevic. 

In a recent case, a victim secretly recorded the suspect.  Please refer to the video clip of the suspect in the attached Dropbox link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9gtafq9vjr2ofqb/AAAceosER0gmEcd5p_4cqa6ia?dl=0

(Cpl. Michele Pihera)

Original, 02/03/2017: (Duluth, Georgia) Gwinnett County Police are trying to identify a man who goes by the alias of Juan Manuel Pineda Cruz. Police believe that his real name may be Eduardo Bueno Cabrera. He has been posing as a fake immigration attorney and stealing thousands from people seeking immigration counsel. Detectives suspect that there are additional victims and are asking for help from the public to identify the suspect and determine his whereabouts.

The first incident was reported December 13, 2016. The victim told police that the suspect introduced himself as an immigration attorney practicing in metro Atlanta. The suspect sounded well versed in immigration law. The victim explained that he paid the suspect over $6,000 dollars to assist in having several of his family members brought to the United States legally. This never happened and the suspect stopped communicating with the victim.

On January 30^th police learned of two other victims that were also scammed by the suspect. The suspect told them he was an immigration attorney and that he could bring immigrants from Mexico to the United States legally and could also legalize anyone’s immigration status. The victims paid the suspect over $20,000 dollars to assist with gaining legal status for 18 foreign workers from Latin America. After several months went by and no immigration progress was made the suspect stopped taking the victims phone calls. At that point, the victim realized that he had been scammed.

A third victim has also come forward saying that last year, the same suspect introduced himself as an immigration attorney and promised to fix his illegal immigration status. The suspect also told the victim that he could provide the legal counsel necessary to bring several of his family members to the United States from Mexico. The victim paid the suspect over $10,000 for immigration counsel. As in the other cases, after payment was received, the suspect stopped communicating with the victims and nothing was done regarding their immigration status. 

All of the victims met with the suspect at Mozart Bakery located at 1630 Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. That is where the victims conducted business with the suspect.

Regardless of a victim’s immigration status, Gwinnett County Police urge anyone who was scammed by the suspect to come forward with information about the incident. Our objective is to stop this suspect from continuing to victimize and exploit individuals seeking legal status in this country. Police also encourage anyone seeking legal counsel for any reason to verify the attorney’s status with the Secretary of State’s Office and the Georgia Bar Association.

Fake Business Card

If anyone has any information to share in this case, please contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300.  To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org.  You can also text your tip to “Crimes” (274637).  Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.  Case Number(s): 16-115968