Man arrested for fraudulently practicing immigration law since 2003

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

A Belleville man was arrested for allegedly bilking several immigrants by posing as an immigration attorney without any authorization to practice law, Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow announced today.

Max Antoine, 39, was apprehended late Wednesday afternoon after a three-year investigation by detectives from the Bloomfield Police Department, which was aided the Essex County Prosecutor's Office economic crimes unit for the past year.

Antoine has allegedly been fraudulently practicing immigration law from a Bloomfield office since 2003, according to Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Grady. The investigation was prompted by several complaints to the Bloomfield Police Department.

"It's basically a case of receiving payments and services never being rendered," said Paul Loriquet, Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokesman.

Several documents from Antoine's office had been confiscated and more charges are expected, Loriquet said.

It remains to be seen if anyone's immigration status has been jeopardized, he said.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/b...ed_with_po.html

[Ban Hammer 13,678]

joisey!

[Dakine 26]

A Belleville man was arrested for allegedly bilking several immigrants by posing as an immigration attorney without any authorization to practice law, Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow announced today.

Max Antoine, 39, was apprehended late Wednesday afternoon after a three-year investigation by detectives from the Bloomfield Police Department, which was aided the Essex County Prosecutor's Office economic crimes unit for the past year.

Antoine has allegedly been fraudulently practicing immigration law from a Bloomfield office since 2003, according to Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Grady. The investigation was prompted by several complaints to the Bloomfield Police Department.

"It's basically a case of receiving payments and services never being rendered," said Paul Loriquet, Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokesman.

Several documents from Antoine's office had been confiscated and more charges are expected, Loriquet said.

It remains to be seen if anyone's immigration status has been jeopardized, he said.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/b...ed_with_po.html

Who knows the guy may have been better than your average immigration lawyer. Wouldn't take much from what I've seen.

Anyone know the law regarding people that charge a fee for assisting people with the process? I know of a couple that aren't lawyers and to so. Seems to me it would be like someone doing the same helping people with their taxes.

LOTS do so without being a CPA.

[almaty 19]

I see allot of that going on here..right Mr. Udall?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Holy cow.

[NickD 203]

I have my grandfathers immigration records, came here from Italy, met with an immigration officer and the officer hand printed out a simple one page form, everything you need is on that one page form and written in simple plain English. Then he moved to Chicago and attend USC classes one night per week and was a USC just five weeks later.

Everything is so damned complicated today, years of new and more laws with very poor instructions and forms that can't even complete a sentence or ask exactly what they are looking for. So, no wonder why attorney's are needed with some taking complete advantage of victims. Not only in immigration, but in everything dealing with our government, time for a revolution.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Growing up in a Cambodian rich city here in Massachusetts, I would accept payment offers to help them process an immigration application. I tell them, I'm no a lawyer but I will help you fill in the information your paperwork and tell you what you need to do.

I charge like $300-500 for service. Same thing with citizenship application.

Edited April 9, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[Saddle Bronc 124]

joisey!

Not exactly restricted to that state unfortunately.

Who knows the guy may have been better than your average immigration lawyer. Wouldn't take much from what I've seen....

Bolded part was quite true of the lawyer who filed my labour-cert in 1996