Thread: Indicted lawyer, White House guest

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/in ... xml&coll=1

Indicted lawyer, White House guest
Accused of immigration fraud but allowed to visit D.C.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
BY JEFF WHELAN
Star-Ledger Staff
Jonathan Saint Preux was indicted last year on charges of immigration fraud, as authorities accused the Irvington immigration attorney of helping illegal aliens stay in the United States unlawfully.

But that didn't stop President Bush from inviting him to a White House function, court records show.

Saint Preux, who was out on $250,000 bail and restricted from out-of-state travel, petitioned the court to attend the event in Washington, D.C., last November, a month after he was charged.

Defendants who are not deemed dangerous to society or a flight risk are routinely granted waivers to travel out of state on limited dates for specific reasons. Such requests, which are often for work, vacation, or visiting sick relatives, must be vetted by authorities.

Federal prosecutors did not object to Saint Preux's request, and U.S. District Judge Katharine Hayden approved it. The consent order Hayden signed allowed Saint Preux to leave New Jersey on Nov. 30 and return the next day at 7 p.m. to "attend a function at the White House at the request of President and Mrs. Bush."

Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark, said federal prosecutors confirmed with the Secret Service the invitation was legitimate before signing off.

Jeanie Mamo, a White House spokeswoman, could not say whether Saint Preux attended the event. She also declined to say whether White House invitees are screened for pending criminal charges.

"Thousands of guests are invited to the White House holiday parties, and we are looking into this matter," she said, declining further comment.

Saint Preux, who faces trial in April, could not be reached for comment last night, nor could his attorney.

Saint Preux, a leader in New Jersey's Haitian-American community, also was part of a 139-person delegation that attended a May 2005 White House event honoring Haitian-American Heritage Month, according to a Haitian American League newsletter.

He was charged with conspiracy and immigration fraud in an eight-count indictment in October 2006.

Authorities said Saint Preux, his wife, Michele, and their office manager, Naranjan Patel, helped "large numbers" of illegal immigrants live in New Jersey and other states unlawfully.

In order to let their illegal clients benefit from an amnesty program sponsored by the federal government, the defendants falsely claimed the aliens lived in the United States before 1982, according to the charges.

"As this indictment shows, these individuals conspired to circumvent our immigration laws, and that deception directly threatens our nation's security," Kyle Hutchins, special agent in charge of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in Newark, said at the time.

Authorities said the defendants prepared at least 800 immigration documents, of which a large number were fraudulent. They were paid thousands of dollars for filing the false documents, authorities said. Saint Preux and his co-conspirators also coached their clients to lie to immigration officials, authorities said.

The defendants face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,00 fine.

Absolutely nothing this man does surprises me. Another possible high-level government appointee.