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Charged in fraud of immigrants
BY SAMUEL BRUCHEY AND HILARY RUSS
STAFF WRITERS

August 4, 2005

Clementina McDermott knew exactly how to convince immigrants that she was someone who could help them get a toehold in this country, Nassau officials said.

She presented a business card - reading "Ayuda Internacional Inmigrante." She told them in Spanish that she was an attorney, had experience dealing with immigration matters, and, for a fee, could help them get a green card.

But after pocketing nearly $4,000 two years ago from a Chilean man and a Colombian woman, both of Oyster Bay, McDermott abandoned her promises, stopped returning their phone calls, and never gave back the money, Nassau prosecutor Christine Sullivan said.

"She had no intention of helping at all," Sullivan said.

McDermott, 61, of Hicksville, surrendered to Nassau authorities yesterday and was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, petty larceny and unauthorized practice of law. She was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead and released without bail. If convicted, she faces up to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison. She could not be reached for comment.

A woman who answered the door at McDermott's home at 117 Scooter Lane and identified herself as McDermott's twin sister, Nora Barbini of Pittsburgh, said the allegations were false.

Barbini said McDermott was a caring person who wanted to help the two immigrants, one of whom she had known for many years. Most importantly, Barbini said, McDermott passed all the money along to the INS and kept nothing for herself. INS officials could not be reached yesterday.

"We are all tired with this injustice," Barbini said.

Garden City attorney Pablo Fernandez said the victims approached him after months of empty promises from McDermott.

McDermott did no work for the man, Sullivan said.

And, while she filed an application for a green card on behalf of the woman, she filled it out with inaccurate information, and sent it to the INS three months after the deadline passed, Sullivan said.