Brazilian Immigrant Ordered Deported for Selling Fake DHS, FBI Immunity Cards
The man allegedly operated a sham agency and sold fraudulent documents promising protection from immigration enforcement.
A Brazilian national who entered the U.S. illegally and created a fake Department of Homeland Security (DHS) branch to sell counterfeit identification cards has been ordered deported.
Mario Cesar Dos Santos Jr., 50, admitted to operating a fictitious federal agency called the "Chaplain Emergency Management Agency" (CEMA). He allegedly sold fraudulent DHS and FBI identification cards, along with merchandise like badges and stickers bearing official seals, to individuals who believed these items would grant them immunity from federal immigration officers.
Dos Santos, who entered the U.S. in 2016 and overstayed his visa, was arrested in February at Orlando International Airport. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and the fraudulent use of government seals. His deportation proceedings are ongoing.
According to authorities, CEMA offered training seminars where participants were charged $400 to $450 for bogus certificates. Each seminar reportedly attracted 30 to 45 participants. The fake certificates featured unauthorized DHS and FBI seals. The organization also falsely claimed accreditation from the International Association for Continuing Education and the American Council on Education.
The CEMA website, social media accounts, and a group chat with over 750 members promoted the courses and displayed an altered DHS seal. An investigation was launched in August 2025 after a confidential informant purchased counterfeit items at one of the seminars.
Dos Santos faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for December 18.
The Trump administration has focused on efforts to eliminate fraud and abuse within federal programs. FEMA alone investigated more than 2,000 fraud cases in fiscal year 2025, according to DHS.