Man accused of scamming immigrants

NEW YORK, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- New York authorities allege a 49-year-old man scammed members of the city's West Indian community out of more than $1 million via a green card scheme.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Shane Ramsundar allegedly posed as a Homeland Security official and offered immigrants the chance to obtain a green card in return for more than $40,000, the New York Post reported Wednesday

Brown alleges Ramsundar also informed immigrants he could get their names removed from deportation and terrorist watch lists, while also offering cheap real estate that had been seized by the government.

The specific charges filed against Ramsundar were not reported. The Post said he would face as much as 15 years in prison if convicted.

"Immigrants … put their faith and their finances in the hands of the defendant who, in turn, allegedly turned their American Dream into the American nightmare," Brown said Tuesday.