Te-Hu Tsuei, aka “Peter” a self proclaimed New York State licensed immigration attorney and sometimes an experienced immigration law paralegal, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of Grand Larceny, Scheme to Defraud, Unauthorized Practice of Law and violating various subsections of the Immigration Assistance Services Law.

Between November 2007 and May 2009, Tsuei allegedly defrauded two Chinese immigrants by falsely introducing himself as a licensed immigration attorney or an experienced immigration law paralegal and assuring them that they can qualify for a U-Visa when they are not.

The victims claimed that Tsuei charged them over $6,000 each for processing their applications. However, Tsuei was neither a New York State licensed attorney nor was he authorized by the Federal Board of Immigration Appeals to provide legal services. By May 2009, Tsuei’s “law office” in New York City was shut down and the victims were unable to reach him after losing $6000.

Tsuei’s case remains ongoing.

If convicted, Tsuei faces a maximum penalty of more than 12 years in prison.

Marc Payen, a self-proclaimed New York State licensed immigration lawyer and immigration service provider for the United Nations, was arrested and charged with 23 counts of Grand Larceny, Forgery, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument, Scheme to Defraud and the Unauthorized Practice of Law. It was alleged that Payan took advantage of 6 Haitian immigrants by fraudulently offering and providing them immigration services in efforts to obtain them Temporary Protected Status (TPS) after a major earthquake in January 2010.

Between September 2009 and April 2010, Payen allegedly misrepresented himself to at least six immigrants that he was either an immigration attorney working for the United Nations, or a United Nations employee working in the immigration services department. But in actuality, Payen is neither a lawyer nor was he employed by the UN.

After a major earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, Payen puportedly reached out to most of his victims and offered them his assistance in filing their Temporary Protected Status, green cards and work permits for a fee of $1000 to $3000 each. Through his alleged misrepresentation, Payen defrauded approximately $12,500.

If convicted, Payen faces a maximum penalty of 104 years in State prison.

Victor Espinal, a local New York resident, pled guilty to grand larceny, forgery, scheme to defraud, and unauthorized practice of law in New York State Supreme Court for posing as a licensed attorney and fraudulently taking money from clients for his legal services on immigration issues.

From 1995 to 2009, Espinal has been misrepresenting himself to the public that he is a New York State licensed immigration attorney. His clients, most of whom were from the Caribbean or Central America paid approximately $3000 each for his assistance in applying for green cards, work permits or immigration visas, which sometimes were never rendered.

If convicted, Espinal is expected at least 6 months in prison and a restitution of $10,000.