A National City psychologist was arrested and charged today on suspicion of completing and selling immigration and Social Security forms falsely stating that his patients had a medical disability.
Dr. Roberto J. Velasquez, 55, was charged with making false statements in immigration documents and applications for Supplemental Security Income disability benefits.
According to an affidavit in support of a complaint and arrest warrant, a confidential source told Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent Nickolaus Jones last September that Velasquez was fraudulently completing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services forms for immigrants in San Diego County.
For a fee of $200, Velasquez would provide a form falsely stating that a person qualified for a medical disability exception, even though the person had no actual disability, according to the affidavit.
Velasquez was also completing medical reports for people seeking to file applications for Social Security Administration's Supplemental Security Income program, authorities said. Velasquez would falsely state that those people had a medical disability, according to the affidavit.
Last September 22, an undercover ICE agent, posing as an immigrant, went to Velasquez's Pacific Health Systems requesting an "immigration paper," according to the affidavit.
During the visit with Velasquez, the psychologist told the undercover agent, "Alright very good, we're going to make you a U.S. citizen, OK?" to which the agent responded, "Thank you doctor," according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, Velasquez collected some biographical information from the agent posing as an immigrant then stated, "I have to come up with a reason why you cannot take the American Citizenship exam."
Velasquez told the undercover agent that he would say the supposed immigrant knew a little bit of English, "that you're depressed, sad anxious, um, I'm going to make a good report for you," according to the affidavit.
