HOUSTON – Houston police are searching for a man accused of impersonating a police officer and defrauding multiple migrants through an elaborate scheme involving a church music group, stealing nearly $10,000 and sensitive personal information from his victims.
Jose Israel Ruano Ventura, 54, faces felony charges for impersonating a public servant and theft after allegedly targeting migrants through a Spring Branch church, where he played in the church band and posed as a law enforcement officer.
Pattern of Deception Through Religious Communities
Victims who spoke with KPRC 2 News but didn’t want to be identified said Ruano Ventura, who regularly performed as a guitarist and singer, used his musical talents to gain the congregation’s trust, and then falsely claimed to be a police officer who could help them get their citizenship paperwork.
“He gained our trust because he said he was a police officer,” one victim said in Spanish but requested anonymity for safety concerns. “The fact that we met him through church made us believe he was trustworthy.”
Ruano Ventura showed victims photos of himself in police uniform, with a badge, and with a gun, according to court records. One of the victims shared photos appearing to be from Ruano Ventura’s Facebook page, including one where he took a selfie with an HPD cruiser.
The alleged fraud targeted victims in different ways. According to court documents, Ruano Ventura approached multiple families with promises to help establish an international traveling music company.
He allegedly charged each family approximately $450, claiming he would assist them in obtaining United States visas.
“We started rehearsals as a group because we were supposedly going to Great Britain, Canada, and many other places,” another victim explained in Spanish.
Financial and Identity Theft Impact
The scheme’s sophistication extended beyond immediate financial fraud. Victims said they provided Ruano Ventura with comprehensive personal identifying information, including:
- Social Security numbers
- Vehicle titles
- Current address information
- Family member details
Ruano Ventura allegedly claimed these documents were necessary for visa applications before announcing he needed to travel to Mexico to process the paperwork.
After collecting both money and personal data, police said he terminated all communication with the victims.
“The fear now is that since these people have our information, they might try something not just against us, but against our children,” one of the victims said in Spanish. “We’re not just worried about the money we lost, but about what could happen with our personal information.”
Cross-State Operations
The investigation took an unexpected turn when, after nearly a month of silence, victims said they discovered Ruano Ventura performing music through a Facebook Live stream at another church in California.
“We never imagined what kind of person he was,” one of the victims said in Spanish.
It’s unclear if other victims have been targeted out of state.
“I would tell him to stop using God as a shield and posing as a Christian,” said the other victim in Spanish who, despite the betrayal, expressed willingness to forgive.
Law Enforcement Response and Community Impact
Court records indicate the known theft amount is near $10,000, but the alleged victims who spoke with KPRC 2 said they believe there are additional victims who have not yet reported.
He does not appear to have a criminal history in Harris County.
Anyone with information about Ruano Ventura’s whereabouts should contact local law enforcement immediately. Victims of similar schemes are encouraged to report incidents to the Houston Police Department’s Major Offenders Division.