Sann Rodrigues to Plead Guilty to Visa Fraud
The TelexFree investor arrested in May 2015 for visa fraud is now headed for prison.
Sann Rodrigues has agreed to plead guilty to the charges against him, according to a plea agreement filed September 28th. The document, signed by Rodrigues on September 23rd, makes clear he has no illusions about his legal standing. "Rodrigues expressly and unequivocally admits that he committed the crime charged," the agreement states.
Rodrigues initially fought the charges. But an August status report signaled the writing was on the wall—a deal was being negotiated. Now, after months of talks with the Department of Justice, he's thrown in the towel.
The guilty plea carries serious consequences. He faces up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Deportation is also a possibility.
The DOJ is pushing for the full weight of sentencing guidelines. They want prison time according to applicable guidelines, a fine along the same lines, 36 months of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Rodrigues is trying to soften the blow, requesting only prison time and the mandatory assessment—no additional fine.
A judge has not yet ruled on the plea agreement. Rodrigues has not formally entered his guilty plea in court.
The case marks another chapter in the unraveling of TelexFree, the VoIP service that prosecutors say was actually a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme. The company collapsed in 2013 after federal investigators began closing in on its operations.
Update: On October 5th, Rodrigues formally entered his guilty plea in court. Sentencing is scheduled for November 15th.
🤖 Quick Answer
Who is Sann Rodrigues and what are his legal charges?Sann Rodrigues is a TelexFree investor arrested in May 2015 for visa fraud. He agreed to plead guilty to the charges against him in September 2015, according to a plea agreement filed on September 28th. The guilty plea carries serious legal consequences for his actions.
What does Rodrigues' plea agreement entail?
The plea agreement, signed September 23rd, states that Rodrigues expressly and unequivocally admits committing the crime charged. The guilty plea carries serious consequences, including a potential prison sentence of up to ten years and three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
What was Rodrigues' initial legal strategy?
Rodrigues initially fought the charges against him. However, an August status report indicated negotiations were underway. After months of discussions with the Department
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