Fraudulent Immigration Lawyer Sentenced In Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A woman has been sentenced for posing as a lawyer providing immigration legal services, according to Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano.

Jasmine Moawad, 49, who at the time of her arrest was living in Gainesville and is from Bolivia, was sentenced to five years in prison for fraud, with all but six months suspended. She was ordered to pay $19,450 in restitution to seven defrauded victims.

"The defendant targeted vulnerable communities to make money and preyed on clients who couldn’t verify documents because they did not speak English, or who were vulnerable to threats and intimidation because of their legal status," said Descano. "Our community is only as safe as our most vulnerable members – that’s why my office is committed to keeping all of our community members safe, regardless of the language they speak or their legal status."

The prosecutor's office said Moawad claimed to provide legal services for a variety of issues, including immigration visas and work permits, as well as civil matters, real estate deals and rental deals. Some victims were instructed to make a payment to a campaign account, New Americanos for America, which was linked to a 2019 campaign for Virginia State Senate. Some victims testified that they asked Moawad to return their payments when the legal work was not completed, but she refused and threatened immigration consequences. When Fairfax County Police charged Moawad in 2021, they said victims met her for legal services in Tysons office space.

Moawad pleaded guilty on Feb. 15 to obtaining money by false pretense. The plea and sentencing followed 11 victims testifying in October 2024 during a restitution hearing.