A Brownsville resident was taken into federal custody for impersonating a federal agent and committing wire fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck announced on Apr. 23.
The case centers on allegations that Mayra Collins, age 29, falsely posed as a federal agent in two separate schemes—one involving visa fraud in 2022 and another related to employment promises in 2025. These charges are significant because they highlight ongoing efforts by authorities to combat fraudulent activities targeting individuals seeking visas or employment opportunities.
According to the unsealed indictment, Collins allegedly pretended to be an immigration officer employed by the United States during her first scheme, claiming she could expedite U.S. Visa processing for four victims who paid her money. In a later incident, she is accused of posing as a Border Patrol agent with influence over hiring decisions and soliciting funds from another victim for uniforms and ballistic vests under the pretense of job placement.
The indictment states that Collins never worked for the United States government nor had any authority to provide visas or employment with Border Patrol. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison for two counts of wire fraud and an additional three years for impersonation charges, along with a possible fine of up to $250,000.
Collins is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Julie Hampton on April 30 at 9:45 a.m., according to the announcement. The investigation was conducted by CBP – Office of Professional Responsibility together with the FBI’s McAllen Border Corruption Task Force and assistance from the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bird and Tyler Foster are prosecuting the case. Authorities emphasized that “an indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence,” noting that “a defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.”
The office overseeing this prosecution—the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas—has had notable leaders such as Alamdar Hamdani and Ryan Patrick among its former heads according to its official history page. It maintains offices across several cities including Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville as described on its official website.
Serving under the Attorney General within the Department of Justice structure according to its official website, this office employs more than 200 attorneys covering over nine million people across 43 counties as detailed online. Its responsibilities include prosecuting federal crimes as well as handling civil cases involving government interests according to its official website.
