Queens woman ordered to repay $3M in immigration fraud following Cuomo probe
BY Katie Nelson


Tuesday, March 2nd 2010, 4:00 AM


A Queens businesswoman was ordered Monday to pay more than $3 million for running an immigration scam that defrauded more than a dozen immigrants of thousands of dollars.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo sued Miriam Mercedes Hernandez in May 2009 as part of a sweeping investigation into immigration fraud.

Under the terms of a Manhattan Supreme Court decision, the Jackson Heights woman must now pay full restitution to 37 families and more than $2.8million in penalties.

Hernandez promised unwitting victims help in securing permanent residence by assuring them she had connections to immigration and elected officials that would get them expedited legal status. She charged up to $15,000 for her services but delivered on none of her promises, Cuomo's office said.

The attorney general's office also has shut down four unlicensed businesses - two in Manhattan, one in Brentwood, L.I., and one in Great Neck, L.I. - that allegedly provided legal services to immigrants in recent months. Anyone who believes they were a victim of immigration fraud should call (866) 390-2992.


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/03 ... fraud.html