Thread: NYC DA: Bogus Ga. lawyer left immigrants worse off

NYC DA: Bogus Ga. lawyer left immigrants worse off

The Associated Press
4:52 p.m. October 15, 2009

NEW YORK — Prosecutors say a convicted bigamist posing as an immigration lawyer scammed thousands of dollars from more than a dozen Guyanese people in New York City, and they face deportation because of his bad advice.

Wilmer Rivera Melendez pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges including grand larceny.

Prosecutors say the 60-year-old Melendez promised to get green cards for at least 14 illegal immigrants in New York. Prosecutors say he charged them and others at least $75,000 for misguided efforts that ended up spurring deportation proceedings.

Defense lawyer Russell Paisley says Melendez never claimed to be an attorney or promised the immigrants anything.

Melendez was released from a Georgia prison in 2006 after serving nearly two years for bigamy.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... dex=183485

Good riddance.