Paralegal to be sentenced in marriage fraud scheme involving Philippines-based church in Van Nuys

Sentencing is set Monday for a Los Angeles paralegal who admitted her role in a scheme to violate U.S. immigration laws by preparing and filing bogus documents that sought permanent residency and citizenship for members of a Philippines-based church.

Maria De Leon, 77, a resident of Koreatown and the owner of a legal document service, pleaded guilty in 2022 to a single federal conspiracy charge, which carries a prison sentence of up to five years.

The defendant admitted her part in a scheme with administrators of a church known as the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, according to her plea agreement, which says De Leon is cooperating in the government’s case.

De Leon acknowledged that for eight years, she helped commit marriage and visa fraud with KOJC leaders. The alleged cult had a compound in Van Nuys at one point.

De Leon was one of nine defendants charged in November 2021 in a 42-count superseding indictment alleging a labor trafficking scheme that used fraudulently obtained visas to bring KOJC members to the United States, where prosecutors believe they were forced to solicit donations for a bogus charity.

The donations were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Members who proved successful at soliciting were forced to enter into sham marriages or obtain fraudulent student visas to acquire legal status in the U.S. so they could continue soliciting donations, the indictment filed in L.A. federal court states.

The indictment also describes a sex trafficking scheme that implicates KOJC’s founder and leader, Apollo Quiboloy, who calls himself “the appointed son of God.” Quiboloy, 76, who is wanted by the FBI, was taken into custody in the Philippines by the National Police two years ago on sexual abuse and human trafficking charges after weeks of negotiations.