Three mid-Missourians who posed as government agents face charges for conspiring to take money from people needing help with immigration. The alleged incidents took place for more than two years.
Thomas J. Strawbridge, 49, Elizabeth L. Meredith, 24, and Thomas B. Laurence, 30, (who also went by Thomas Barnes, Thomas Laurente and Thomas Johnson) were charged in a 14-count indictment on Thursday, February 16. All three were from Sedalia. The indictment was unsealed and made public on Tuesday after Strawbridge’s arrest and first court appearance.
According to the federal indictment, Strawbridge founded and owned Immigration Forms and Publications, or IFP, in Sedalia. Laurence managed day-to-day operations, and Meredith assisted Laurence.
Between March 2009 and April 2011, the three are accused of defrauding people who were seeking help with immigration-related matters. The charges accuse them of doing this by charging them for forms the U.S. government provided for free. These costs could reach upwards of $290. Strawbridge, Laurence, and Meredith allegedly used the government’s costs to process the forms to make their estimates for how much it was to just buy the forms, which, again, the government provided at no charge. When it came time to actually process the forms, customers were left paying the processing fee twice.
The charges also accuse the three of giving customers the false impression that IFP was affiliated with the federal government. They’re accused of even going as far as calling themselves “agents.”
According to the indictment, these “agents” had no particular expertise in immigration matters and sometimes gave customers the wrong form for their situation.
The indictment against the three also includes a “forfeiture allegation.” If found guilty, Strawbridge, Laurence, and Meredith will have to give back everything they bought using money taken through their conspiracy.
Actual FBI agents, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and several Missouri agencies investigated this case.
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Besides what happens to the three accused, what do you think should happen to those who were defrauded? Should they get their money back? Do you feel sorry for them for going through the wrong group? Tell us what you think by commenting below.
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