DOJ: Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and the Fraudulent Use of Government Seals

• Dos Santos falsely claimed CEMA was endorsed by FEMA and used DHS, FEMA, and FBI seals to charge for training certificates.
• A CEMA group chat had more than 750 members and merchandise bearing government seals was sold at trainings.

Mario Cesar Dos Santos, Jr., president of Chaplain Emergency Management Agency, Inc. (CEMA), admitted to wire fraud and fraudulent use of government seals. He falsely portrayed CEMA as a federal agency, using DHS, FEMA, and FBI seals to charge individuals for chaplaincy certificates and merchandise.

Dos Santos organized training courses, charged attendees $400 to $450 for certificates, and claimed CEMA chaplains had immunity from immigration enforcement. An undercover operation revealed merchandise sales and a group chat with more than 750 members promoting fraudulent courses.

• $400 to $450 fee charged for chaplaincy certificate
• 30 to 45 individuals attended undercover training
• more than 750 members in CEMA group chat

• Review all training certificates and merchandise for unauthorized use of DHS, FEMA, and FBI seals linked to CEMA.
• Monitor group chats and digital flyers for promotion of CEMA courses falsely claiming FEMA endorsement.
• Verify claims of accreditation by IACET and ACE on CEMA’s website and social media accounts.

This case highlights the risks of fraudulent organizations misusing government seals and falsely claiming federal endorsement to deceive individuals and collect fees. Compliance officers must be vigilant for unauthorized use of official symbols, false claims of accreditation, and misleading representations of government affiliation. Such schemes can undermine public trust in legitimate agencies and expose victims to financial and legal harm, including false promises of immunity from immigration enforcement.