Crooked NYC attorney Carlos Moreno sentenced for immigration scams

Carlos Moreno, 61, collected greater than $140,000 from immigration visa scams.
Steven Hirsch

An unlicensed New York Metropolis legal professional who bilked scores of immigrants out of hundreds of dollars by citizenship schemes — together with the frequent “10-year inexperienced card” rip-off — was sentenced to as much as three years in jail Wednesday.

Carlos Moreno, 61, collected greater than $140,000 from his shoppers, together with two who saved paying him hundreds of dollars for months after he had been disbarred in 2017, the Manhattan District Lawyer’s Workplace stated. 

In short remarks throughout his sentencing in Manhattan Supreme Courtroom, the crooked legal professional apologized for practising legislation with no license — however maintained he was an advocate for immigrants.

“I’ve devoted my life to aiding immigrants. And I believed that I used to be serving to my shoppers,” he informed Justice Maxwell Wiley.

Prosecutors stated the hack lawyer took on extra shoppers and gave authorized recommendation to scores of immigrants after shedding his license.

Beginning even earlier than he was disbarred, and persevering with after he had misplaced his license, Moreno scammed undocumented immigrants by assuring them they might have the ability to keep within the US if they'd lived right here for 10 years or extra, prosecutors stated.

Carlos Moreno was sentenced to as much as three years in jail.

Steven Hirsch

He would full the ruse — referred to as the “10-year inexperienced card rip-off” — by submitting bogus asylum functions on behalf of the shoppers, triggering removing proceedings, the DA’s Workplace stated. 

His legal professional informed Wiley that Moreno presently works as an adjunct lecturer educating constitutional and legal legislation on the Borough of Manhattan Neighborhood School — a gig “he truly enjoys very a lot.”

Moreno was sentenced to a minimal of 1 yr and as much as three years in state jail after being convicted of scheme to defraud and practising legislation with no license. 

“These New Yorkers sought authorized companies from Mr. Moreno with a view to apply for everlasting residency within the place they already name dwelling. As a substitute, he took their charges and positioned them in conditions that put them susceptible to deportation,” District Lawyer Alvin Bragg stated in an announcement after the sentencing.