LOS ANGELES – A woman has been charged with scamming more than a dozen immigrants by allegedly pretending to be a consultant and sometimes an attorney, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.
Nubia Esmeralda Burrier, 56, is set to be arraigned next week on 10 counts of grand theft and one count of first-degree residential burglary with a person present, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Burrier allegedly met with the victims at her office across the street from the U.S. Immigration Court and allegedly filed for political asylum on their behalf even though she knew they weren’t eligible, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
She allegedly stole just over $127,000 from 17 victims, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
“This person allegedly preyed upon immigrants who lacked the sophistication to navigate the immigration system,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement announcing the charges. “She was repeatedly told she could not legally provide immigration services. But, nevertheless, she ignored these warnings.”
The case remains under investigation by the District Attorney’s Economic Justice and Notario Fraud Unit and the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.
The District Attorney’s Office is asking that anyone who believes they may have been defrauded to call the DCBA’s hotline at 213-974-1452.
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