An FBI investigation is now focusing on Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman who was previously reported missing. The investigation is centered around a green card scam, while her family continues to be embroiled in controversy over the funds raised on GoFundMe.
Kobayashi was initially reported missing on November 11 after she failed to board her connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York.
After an extensive search effort, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that Kobayashi, aged 30, had intentionally crossed the border into Mexico on November 12.
Sources revealed to Los Angeles Magazine on Wednesday that Kobayashi might have fallen victim to a fraudulent green card visa scheme orchestrated by her ex-boyfriend prior to her disappearance.
The unnamed ex had accompanied Kobayashi on the flight to Los Angeles along with two others: an Argentine man named Alan Cacace and his girlfriend – known only as Marianne.
While her ex-boyfriend traveled on to New York, Kobayashi stayed in Los Angeles.
Documents uncovered by Kobayashi’s mother, Brandi Yee, revealed that Kobayashi had been working with an immigration attorney.
Cacace and Kobayashi had reportedly married in a bogus ceremony to get him a green card, an arrangement alleged to have been set up by her ex-boyfriend, who then scammed her out of the payment for it, LA Mag reported.
Hannah Kobayashi, 30, who was reported missing early last month, is now the target of an FBI investigation into a green card scam
After weeks of searching, the Los Angeles Police Department revealed on Monday that the 30-year-old had ‘knowingly’ crossed the border into Mexico on November 12
Documents uncovered by Kobayashi’s mother, Brandi Yee, also revealed that Kobayashi had been working with an immigration attorney
A series of text messages seemed to allude to the possible scam, after Kobayashi texted a friend and said: ‘I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds. From someone I thought I loved.’
In another message, she wrote: ‘Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f— since Friday.’
Yee attempted to contact the immigration attorney, who ‘was not cooperative with the mom,’ a source told LA Mag.
After news of the potential scam surfaced, the family’s attorney took to X to address the allegations.
‘We want to stress that the family has not publicly announced any information regarding an alleged marriage because we did not have the facts or the necessary documents to verify the legitimacy of this information,’ said attorney Sara Azari.
Azari also added that Yee had turned the documentation over to law enforcement ‘immediately upon receipt.’
The family attorney added to Morning in America that the family has felt, ‘overwhelmed and in shock and concerned.’
On Monday, police revealed that Kobayashi had been spotted on security footage crossing the border into Tijuana and updated her status to a ‘voluntarily missing person’.
The new development has caused rifts between family members.
Kobayashi’s sister, Sydni, spoke out against her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, for comments made to the press and disagreements over how the proceeds of a fundraiser set up by Sydni should be used.
One of Hannah’s friends received strange texts from Kobayashi’s phone, indicating that she may be in trouble
Police revealed that Kobayashi had been spotted on security footage crossing the border into Tijuana and updated her status to a ‘voluntarily missing person’
Footage showed Kobayashi only days after she disappeared and about two weeks before her father, Ryan Kobayashi, took his own life at a parking garage near Los Angeles International Airport after arriving to help search for her
‘It’s really unfortunate when you have to question family,’ Sydni told NewsNation. ‘The fact that she has gone rogue and wants to disconnect from [our effort], that’s on her.’
‘I will do whatever I can to protect our family at this point and do whatever I can to still find my sister,’ she continued.
‘And I no longer want to have any connection with the confusion that I feel like she’s caused since this case started with my sister.’
Azari added that it is important to note that Hannah’s family comprises Sydni, ‘her mother and her uncle and that side,’ and not Pidgeon.
It is unclear what exactly Pidgeon may have said that the other family members disagree with.
But the worried aunt is now hitting back, telling the New York Post that her niece is ‘throwing her under the bus’ because she wants to be in the limelight.
‘They want to be the face,’ Pidgeon said of her extended family. ‘They want to be the whole thing… It’s really sad.’
She went on to say she agrees that the LAPD’s ruling that Kobayashi ‘voluntarily’ exited the airport and went to Mexico is probably true, but said she also plans to travel to Mexico to continue the search for her niece.
Hannah Kobayashi’s sister, Sydni Kobayashi, told NBC News on Tuesday that the family ‘is confused’ as to why authorities have not shared footage of Kobayashi crossing into Tijuana
Hannah’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, claimed her niece is ‘throwing her under the bus’ because she wants to be in the limelight
Kobayashi had ‘knowingly departed’ LAX after checking her bag to her connecting flight to New York from Maui and went to Union Station on November 11 and used her passport to buy a bus ticket to the border
Pidgeon added that there is ‘major tension’ over what happens next considering the new development.
‘My sister’s purported “voluntary” disappearance is shocking to all of us and, we are extremely concerned for her safety while we continue to grieve my father’s loss. We have therefore hired an attorney and a private investigator, and we will also need legal and investigative services in Mexico in order to locate Hannah,’ Sydni updated on the GoFundMe page.
She further stated that the donations would be used toward the ‘continued search efforts’ and ‘significant legal costs’ expected as they continue their search.
‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for continuing to support my family and Hannah,’ she added.
The fundraiser garnered over $47,000, but the family received large amounts of criticism for leaving the fundraiser up and collecting more donations.
‘They just let the GoFundMe run and let volunteers spend thousands of hours looking for her,’ one person wrote on X.
‘Return the money to the people who have donated to this fundraiser,’ another added.
‘Police have already stated she is voluntarily missing. The organizers have withheld information from donors.’
The fundraiser garnered over $47,000, but the family received large amounts of criticism for leaving the fundraiser up and collecting more donations. ‘Y’all I cannot believe that Hannah Kobayashi cross the border into Mexico a week and a half ago and officials in the family told no one,’ one person wrote on X
Hannah’s sister, Sydni, told the outlet: ‘We’re just as confused and just as frustrated more than anything now’
‘Agree, resources need to go elsewhere now. I wonder if the GoFundMe is still up…’ one person wrote.
A spokesman for GoFundMe confirmed that the fundraiser remains within its terms of service.
‘If any donor would like to submit a claim to request a refund, we will honor it for them,’ a representative told the New York Post.
Kobayashi had ‘knowingly departed’ LAX after checking her bag to her connecting flight to New York from Maui and went to Union Station on November 11 and used her passport to buy a bus ticket to the border.
The footage showed her only days after she disappeared and about two weeks before her father, Ryan Kobayashi, took his own life at a parking garage near Los Angeles International Airport after arriving to help search for her.
Kobayashi missed the flight to New York and security camera footage showed her abandoning the airport with her backpack only.
On November 10, she visited a bookstore at The Grove, a popular shopping center in Los Angeles.
Security cameras showed Kobayashi boarding a train on the LAX Metro C line at Aviation/Century Station at 9:02 pm and then transferred to a different train at the Rosa Parks Station.
‘Our family remains hopeful that Hannah is safe and urges everyone to continue the search,’ the family’s statement read. ‘The search is far from over, and we are committed to doing everything possible to bring her home safely’
Kobayashi was finally seen leaving the Metro Pico Station with an unidentified person at 10:03pm.
It was around that time that her family received a string of strange text messages from Kobayashi that seemed to suggest she was in trouble, and someone had stolen her money.
In which she claimed someone she ‘loved’ had stolen her money, and that she had undergone a ‘spiritual awakening’.
The family also noted that the young artist’s phone has been off since November 11 and her last pinned location was at LAX.
‘There are a lot of suspicious or at least peculiar things about this case,’ Almonte said, referencing her texts messages and ‘spiritual awakening.’
‘It remains a mystery to me as to why she would cross into Mexico.’
The Kobayashi family said in a statement to NBC News that they would continue to search for her, despite police saying they would not further the investigation.
Her sister, Sydni, told the outlet: ‘We’re just as confused and just as frustrated more than anything now.’
Azari added: ‘They just reached this conclusion…without showing them any footage. It takes a lot more digging and investigation to be able to say it’s voluntary.’
Sources have said they do not suspect foul play in her disappearance, one said: ‘She’s an adult and she can choose to be missing.’
‘Our family remains hopeful that Hannah is safe and urges everyone to continue the search,’ the family’s statement read. ‘The search is far from over, and we are committed to doing everything possible to bring her home safely.’
