AG Previously Sued Woman After Immigration Services Investigation


INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis business owner who the Attorney General sued earlier this month after an investigation of immigration services was charged Thursday with tax evasion.

Esther Barber, founder of the Mexican Civic Association, is accused of failing to pay income tax for the past five years, 6News' Rafael Sanchez reported.

The state filed nine counts of tax evasion against Barber, a Class D felony that carries a half-year to three years in prison on each count, if convicted, and one count of practicing law without a license, a Class B misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to 180 days in prison.

Barber's Indianapolis home and the business were raided on March 9.

Court documents released on Thursday showed that investigators removed a significant amount of records from her business, including contents of a safe, where $1600 cash and bank records showing that Barber had deposited $62,877.32 from 2008 to 2009 in Banorte Bank in Mexico, were found.

Records 6News obtained indicated that the Indiana Department of Revenue has not received an income tax return from Barber since 1999 and has no record of her paying taxes for the last decade.

Due to statute of limitations, the state can only seek to recover money for five years, including 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

6News reported earlier this month that Barber had been accused of providing immigration services even though her workers were not licensed to practice law.

The Indiana Attorney General's Office filed suit against the Mexican Civic Association and asked for a preliminary injunction against the business.

The AG's suit alleged that Barber charged people up to $1,500 to work on immigration paperwork, although she has no license to practice law.

According to court documents, Barber is a notary who misled people into believing she could do more than verify signatures on important documents.

Barber told 6News earlier this month that she had disclosure notices posted inside her business advising customers that she is not an attorney and cannot provide legal advice

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