More than a dozen Haitians say they sent thousands of dollars to a South Florida woman who promised to help them immigrate to the U.S., but they never got here. 7’s Heather Walker investigates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virgil Widmy wants to take his family away from the violence in Haiti and start a new life in the United States. But he says the “company” that was supposed to help him immigrate has left him stranded in the Dominican Republic for nearly a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virgil Widmy: “I can’t go back to my country, and I’m stuck here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A friend recommended Virgil use Charluna #1 Travel Agency in North Miami to get a visa and move to the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virgil called the agency and says he spoke to a woman named Lunie Pierre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He says Pierre promised to get him a visa to Mexico, where he could then apply for temporary protected status in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virgil Widmy: “I had to come here to the Dominican Republic, since she told me we’d be boarding a flight to Mexico from Dominican Republic. She told us that we would get a visa.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virgil says he paid the agency an $8,000 deposit, then he sent an additional $4,508 after arriving in the Dominican Republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Virgil says Pierre ghosted him right before his flight to Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virgil Widmy: “I couldn’t reach her anymore. I was supposed to be boarding on October 20th. October 19, I didn’t hear from her.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amide Joseph says she had a similar situation when she tried to get a visa for her brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She didn’t want to show her face because she’s worried about her brother’s safety. He’s still in Haiti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amide Joseph: “I really feel bad because he is my youngest brother.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She says she paid Pierre $4,000, but the day her brother was supposed to leave Haiti and head to the U.S., he and the other people traveling with him were stopped at the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amide Joseph: “Their tickets were checked, and they were told that their tickets were not in the system because they were not paid.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7 Investigates spoke with more than a dozen people in Haiti and South Florida who say they paid thousands of dollars to the travel agency or Lunie Pierre for immigration help, but never got to the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amide Joseph: “She doesn’t want to refund the money. The money is gone.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7 Investigates called Lunie Pierre, but she refused to answer any questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A former customer filed a complaint against Pierre and Charluna #1 Travel Agency with the state. It claims Pierre gave them “a fake Brazilian visa and failed to deliver the promised services.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pierre denied the claims and said she doesn’t own a travel agency. She added her “…brother owns a travel agency \u2026 it is based and operated in Haiti…” and they “…do not offer visa services.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After her response, the state closed the complaint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patricia Elizee, immigration attorney: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Immigration attorney Patricia Elizee says, if you want to move to the U.S, your best option is to hire a lawyer, because it’s a long process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right now, the only legal option most Haitians have is to get a visa in a different country, then go to the U.S. Embassy and try to be accepted as a third country national.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patricia Elizee: “And that request is not always guaranteed.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the request is approved, there’s still work ahead, and it involves more than just paying for a visa and getting on a plane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patricia Elizee: “I know people are desperate, but this isn’t the time to take risks with the funds that you have or with your immigration status.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virgil took the risk. He’s now stuck in the Dominican Republic, afraid to go back to Haiti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virgil Widmy: “I can’t go back to my country. You know, the situation, the current situation, the gangs, violence, you know, everywhere in the country.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He’s still hopeful to start a new life with his family in the U.S., if he can find the right person to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heather Walker, 7News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:<\/strong>
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"