Federal charges were unsealed Monday against a suburban Chicago businessman accused of using phony documents and forged signatures to create false immigration narratives for clients seeking asylum in the U.S.
Jose Gregorio Sosa Cardona, 40, of Downers Grove, was charged in a seven-count indictment with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, falsifying applications for immigration benefits, and making a false statement to U.S. immigration officials.
Cardona was arrested Monday and pleaded not guilty to the charges at an arraignment at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. Prosecutors are seeking to have him held in custody pending trial, and a detention hearing was set for Wednesday. His attorney was not immediately available for comment.
The indictment alleged Cardona operated Delta Global Solutions Inc., which assisted individuals in applying for asylum, immigrant visas, lawful permanent residence cards and other immigration benefits.
From 2020 to 2024, Cardona conspired with two employees of his firm and others to provide false information to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on behalf of his clients, who were seeking benefits, according to the indictment.
The indictment accused Cardona of fabricating foreign law enforcement reports and foreign political party membership letters to falsely corroborate his clients’ asylum claims. For one client seeking asylum status in 2020, Cardona forged the name of a police chief, the charges stated.
Two of the clients listed in the 20-page indictment were from Venezuela, while the nationality for the other three clients was not provided in the charges.
The charges also alleged Cardona lied to U.S. immigration officials by saying he was an attorney licensed to practice in Ohio. In fact, Cardona is not an attorney and was not authorized to represent applicants in immigration proceedings before the USCIS.
The charge of falsifying immigration applications carries up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The conspiracy and false statement counts each carry a maximum sentence of five years.
State records show Cardona’s business was incorporated in 2022 under the name “Delta Globale Solutions” and has an address in Lisle. No one answered calls at the number listed for the business on Monday.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
