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A former Virginia Senate candidate who posed as an immigration attorney and threatened clients with deportation has been sentenced to jail and ordered to repay seven victims.
Jasmine Moawad, 49, received a five-year sentence for fraud on Friday, March 7, with all but six months suspended. She must also pay $19,450 in restitution.
Moawad, who is originally from Bolivia, is not licensed to practice law in Virginia or any other jurisdiction. Investigators identified more than a dozen victims after the case began in 2021.
Authorities said Moawad offered help with immigration visas, work permits, civil disputes, and real estate or rental transactions. Some clients were instructed to send payments to New Americanos for America, an account connected to her unsuccessful 2019 campaign for the Virginia Senate.
When clients demanded refunds because the promised work had not been completed, Moawad refused and threatened some of them with immigration consequences, according to prosecutors.
Fairfax County police arrested Moawad on May 12, 2021, after an acquaintance of one victim contacted the department. Police had identified two victims at the time and knew of at least five potential victims.
Investigators said she appeared to target Latino immigrants. Although Moawad lived in Gainesville, she operated from rented office space in the Tysons area.
Eleven victims testified during a two-day restitution hearing in October. Moawad later pleaded guilty on Feb. 15 to obtaining money by false pretenses, a Class 4 felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison.
Moawad apologized during her sentencing hearing, but Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Tania M.L. Saylor imposed jail time after concluding that Moawad had not demonstrated true remorse during the proceedings. The restitution amount was based on evidence victims presented at the October hearing.
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said Moawad exploited clients who faced language barriers or feared consequences because of their immigration status. He said his office remains committed to protecting community members regardless of the language they speak or their legal status.