Sheriff's detectives arrested Araceli Martinez at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday. They said she was just minutes from departing on a flight to Mexico.
Fourteen victims reported they each paid Martinez between $4,000 and $8,000 in exchange for obtaining what they believed would grant them legal resident status.
Authorities believe there may still be several victims out there.
"I've already been contacted by several people this morning, there's probably going to be several victims in Bakersfield and in the Pomona area where she also met people at churches. The one thing I want to say is those people need to go to their local police agencies," said L.A. County Sheriff's Department Det. Matthew Henggeler.
Martinez is being held on $335,000 bail. She faces charges of theft by false pretenses. She is set to make her first court appearance Monday.
