Authorities raid The Immigration Centers
Comments 7
Prosecutors received complaints that James Harvey Tipler took money to help people obtain visas they never received
February 20, 2009 - 11:25 AM
Tom McLaughlin

FORT WALTON BEACH - James Harvey Tipler, a recently disbarred local attorney, had his office raided Wednesday by authorities investigating his dealings as owner of a business called The Immigration Centers.

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department and the First Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office served a search warrant, according to Russ Edgar, who handles special prosecutions for the state attorney.

Edgar said his office had received complaints that the Immigration Center was taking money to help people obtain visas that they never received.

Investigators searched not only the Immigration Center office, located behind the Big City Café on Brooks Street, but also the home of a business manager and an off-site storage facility, Edgar said.

No arrests have been made and Edgar asks that anyone with information about The Immigration Centers and its business practices contact either Edgar or Randy Crowder at the State Attorney's Office in Pensacola at (850) 595-4200.

Tipler, who Edgar said was disbarred from practicing law in Florida in late 2008, could not immediately be reached for comment.

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