Woman accused of running immigration fraud operation



By ELAINE SILVESTRINI

esilvestrini@tampatrib.com

Published: September 18, 2009

TAMPA - The owner of a Clearwater immigration services business has been indicted on federal charges alleging she conspired to prepare fraudulent applications for asylum and forged documents supporting the applications.

Barbara Branks, owner and president of La Gringa Professional Immigration Services on Drew Street, is accused in the indictment of preparing and notarizing false applications and documents in 19 cases, dating from 2006 to February 2009.

To qualify for asylum, an immigrant has to prove he has been persecuted or has a well-founded fear of persecution in his home country based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. He has to prove either that his home country was the persecutor or is unable to control the persecutor.

Among the documents Branks is accused of conspiring to prepare are medical letters, political party affiliation letters and proof of employment letters. She and her alleged conspirators are also accused of coaching clients about what to say about their asylum applications.

A former employee of the business, Daniela Maria Aizpurua, was charged this month with marriage fraud. The complaint alleges she fraudulently married an American citizen so she could remain in the country.

Aizpurua, who also uses the last name Lagassey, worked at the business from 2005 until a federal search warrant was served there in June, the complaint states. She and her husband, David Lagassey, were married in October 2005 by Branks, a notary public.

According to the complaint, she and Lagassey never lived together. David Lagassey was indicted Sept. 10 on a charge of marriage fraud.

When interviewed by investigators, David Lagassey didn't know the names of his wife's parents. He said his parents and brother didn't know about the marriage, and that he'd had a girlfriend since the marriage who didn't know he was married, according to the complaint against his wife.


http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/18 ... -breaking/