LOS ANGELES -- Immigrants who took part in an elaborate fake naturalization ceremony complete with a person in a black robe posing as a judge were victims of a scam that cost them as much as $25,000 each, federal agents said Wednesday.

Four people were arrested in the scheme, which included immigrants reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, taking a citizenship oath and answering questions about American history.

"This is a scheme that preyed on the hopes of immigrants who wanted to become U.S. citizens," Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cowan said.

The alleged ringleader, Elzbieta Malgorzata Bugajska, 50, of Los Angeles, was arrested Tuesday with John P. Bradley, 56; Yolanda Miel Lubiano, 62; and Lorena Velasquez Garcia, 39.

Bugajska and Bradley were charged with impersonating federal judges. Bugajska was charged with using a falsely obtained passport and Garcia was charged with accessing a government computer with intent to defraud. All were charged with one count of mail fraud.

Bugajska, a native of Poland, allegedly masqueraded as an immigration consultant named Jerry Ann Mitchell. The real Jerry Ann Mitchell died as an infant in Texas in 1943, decades before Bugajska assumed her identity, authorities said.

Bugajska sold genuine Social Security cards for $750 to immigrants, authorities said, provided to her by Garcia, a 15-year employee of the Social Security Administration.

Bradley posed as a judge during a bogus ceremony in October 2000 at Lubiano's house, authorities said.

"Bradley 'swore-in' the aliens as citizens, but while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance forgot the words and had to be assisted by an alien," according to court papers.

Officials said there was at least one other bogus ceremony.

Bugajska told people she was a former CIA agent and federal judge who was able to naturalize people, authorities said. At least 25 immigrants were defrauded and the investigation is continuing.

Most of the victims were Koreans and Filipinos, some allegedly lured by Lubiano, a native of the Philippines.

Bugajska was ordered held without bond Tuesday, while Garcia and Lubiano were released on bonds of $25,000 and $20,000. A bond hearing for Bradley was pending. It was not immediately known if they had obtained attorneys.