Woman accused of bilking immigrants ordered to pay restitution
By Pamela Manson



Updated: 06/11/2010 05:56:32 PM MDT


A woman accused of posing as an attorney and bilking undocumented immigrants has been ordered to pay restitution to her former clients.

However, the chance of getting the money could be slim: Leticia Avila failed to appear at a trial on a lawsuit filed against her by the Utah State Bar and authorities believe she has fled to her native Ecuador.

The trial in the suit accusing Avila, 49, of the unauthorized practice of law went on without her on May 25. At the end, 3rd District Judge Paul Maughan ordered the former Clinton woman to reimburse $20,750 to her victims and prohibited her from practicing law.

The judge also awarded the Utah Bar its attorney fees in prosecuting the case. The amount will be determined later.

The suit claimed that Avila, who worked as a legal assistant, pretended to be an attorney and falsely told her foreign-born clients that she could fast-track their applications for legal residency or citizenship. It listed 17 people who Avila allegedly charged a retainer but provided no services or inadequate services.

Many of Avila's clients say they knew her as a fellow member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The fraud allegedly began in 2005 and the victims, who gave depositions in the case last year, were eventually deported.

In a separate matter, the Utah Attorney General's Office charged Avila in March with four counts of communications fraud and one count of a pattern of unlawful activity. The case is pending in 3rd District Court and a warrant has been issued for Avila's arrest.

pmanson@sltrib.com


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