Posted on 09/22/2005 9:27:57 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Two people pleaded guilty to stealing money from immigrants who wanted to get papers to stay in the country legally.
Bemilda "Linda" Ruiz of El Cajon and Jose Ceseña Sotomayor of Chula Vista agreed to pay $72,648 to their victims by Dec. 14, when a judge is scheduled to sentence them.
If they complete the payments, Ruiz will serve a year in County Jail and Ceseña six months, according to an agreement with prosecutors. Otherwise, the judge can sentence Ruiz to four years in state prison and Ceseña to 16 months.
As part of the plea bargain, prosecutors dropped charges that they forged immigration documents.
Prosecutor Tricia Pummill said people who were ripped off by the pair in the past four years can still get their money back by calling the District Attorney's Office.
"You took money from immigrant clients without performing services?" Judge David J. Danielsen asked Ruiz during a brief hearing. "Correct?"
"Yes, your honor," she replied.
Ruiz and Ceseña promised clients green cards but filed applications that immigration officials rejected, authorities said.
Ruiz once worked for a lawyer who was disbarred. Several people who met her while she worked for that lawyer said she called them years later and said they could reapply for work permits, according to court records.
She and Ceseña met them at a now-defunct business called Legal Services Network in downtown San Diego and collected thousands of dollars for assistance, but the clients got nothing in return.
After a court hearing in July, Ruiz's defense lawyer said she tried to help people who were abandoned by their lawyer and got in over her head.
fyi
Cry me a river alert
ping
The article I posted was done by a local reporter and rag, the MSM probably won't even report it. ;-)
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!
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