A San Fernando Valley resident has been charged for allegedly posing as an immigration attorney without a license.
Jesus Luna Lozano, 52, has been charged with six criminal counts including: the unauthorized practice of law, three counts of violating the Immigration Consultant Act for failing to post proper bonds and notice; failure to provide a written contract; and violation of a permanent injunction, according to a news release from the City Attorney’s Office.
Lozano was allegedly doing business as West Coast Professional Services and East West Law Center at 6320 Van Nuys Blvd. in Van Nuys and was uncovered when he unlawfully offered legal advice to undercover investigators from the Department of Consumer Affairs posing as immigrants.
“He was actually practicing law and giving them legal advice, asking them questions and suggesting what their path might be to obtain legal citizenship,” said Deputy City Attorney Onica Cole.
Lozano’s arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 27. If convicted, he could face more than five years in prison.
With President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration late last year, the City Attorney’s Office is taking steps to protect immigrants from scams.
“We know that immigrants seeking to remain in the country and take advantage of the Executive Order or previous actions can spend thousands of dollars,” said Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. “What scams can do is not only steal the life savings of a family but when the alleged work isn’t done properly, they dash their dreams forever and wreck families forever.”
Rigo Reyes, chief of investigations at the California Department of Consumer Affairs, told the Los Angeles Times there could be up to 2,500 individuals unlawfully offering immigration advice in California.
Feuer is working with the Department of Consumer Affairs and other legal aid organizations to stop scam artists from taking advantage of those who would benefit from Obama’s executive action on immigration.
“This collaboration should send a shiver through those who would perpetrate immigration fraud because the Department of Consumer Affairs is out there conducting these operations,” he said.
Feuer’s office hosted a free community forum on immigration on Jan. 31 at Mount St. Mary’s College in South Los Angeles to connect individuals with low cost or free immigration legal services. Another free forum will be held Feb. 28 at the El Nido Family Source Center in Pacoima, Calif., which Feuer said will allow eligible individuals to take advantage of the opportunity offered through Obama’s executive order. At the town hall, individuals will also receive assistance on how to avoid and report immigration scams.
Feuer’s office is also ensuring information about steps being taken to protect immigrants is disseminated in multiple languages, including Tagalog. Materials are now also available at Town Hall.
At the first forum on Jan. 31, among organizations in attendance included Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Los Angeles, a Bureau of Immigration Appeals (BIA) accredited organization.
“Help with immigration-related issues is one of the highest areas of need for Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities,” said Tiffany Panlilio, a DACA/DAPA legal advocate at the organization. “Unfortunately, many API individuals and their families fall victim to costly immigration scams and poor immigration advice, often resulting in severe and irreversible immigration consequences.”
One way immigrants can watch out for scams is by noting that only attorneys and non-attorney representatives accredited by the BIA are authorized to offer legal advice on immigration matters, the organization says. Accreditation can be confirmed via the BIA website. California attorneys’ records can also be found online.
The Spanish-speaking population is also affected by immigration scams.
Many state-accredited immigration consultants say they are licensed attorneys, but they are only authorized to translate answers on immigration forms. Other public notaries take advantage the Spanish term for “notary,” which translates to “lawyer” in certain parts of Latin America.
“A lot of people believe they’re attorneys because they use the term ‘notario,’ notary – in Latin America, the word means attorney,” immigration attorney Nelson Castillo told NBC News.
Those who believe they are a victim of a scam are encouraged to call the Department of Consumer Affairs at (800) 593-8222.
(With reports from Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Times and NBC News)
(www.asianjournal.news)
(LA Midweek February 11-13, 2015 Sec. A pg.1)
