SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — A San Francisco Superior Courtroom choose dominated in favor of the town to cease an immigration consulting enterprise from offering fraudulent immigration providers.

For years, San Francisco public notary Leo Lacayo has been the main target of investigations by the town lawyer’s workplace.

“Lately, Leo Lacayo has been the most important and worse offender we’re conscious of, who has defrauded tons of of immigrant households of cash,” stated David Chiu, Metropolis Legal professional of San Francisco.

This week a choose granted the town’s movement to cease Lacayo from offering what they categorized as “fraudulent immigration providers,” citing a violation to an order Lacayo acquired in 2017 prohibiting him from performing as an lawyer.

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“It’s a vital win though it is one thing that ought to have occurred years in the past,” stated Chiu and added, “He’s not allowed to even make referrals or present any recommendation.”

Norberto Molina stated he was a sufferer of Lacayo in 2016 when he paid him 1000’s of {dollars} hoping to get authorized support within the U.S.

“Greater than $6,000 after which he charged me one other $500,” stated Molina.

Legal professional Pilar Eslava with community-based authorized group, La Raza Centro Authorized has been choosing up the items of instances like Norberto’s.

“He was mendacity to purchasers. He was presenting himself as an lawyer. He was saying that he had many attorneys working at his workplace,” stated Eslava and added, “We have been attempting to assist in fixing up the mess for years.”

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Eslava explains that in Latin America, a public notary is a lawyer with a specialty. Lacayo’s purchasers say he hides behind that distinction.

“Within the U.S., a notary could possibly be anyone. You do not have to have a bachelor diploma to be a notary in america, however these folks do not know that. These folks once they hear the phrase notary they assume it is someone that may be a specialist in legislation,” stated Eslava.

In accordance with court docket paperwork, Lacayo’s fraudulent conduct is huge. His workplace has submitted over 400 purposes to U.S. immigration authorities.

We went to Lacayo’s workplace and had been advised he was out. On the telephone, he stated the allegations had been “rubbish” and sarcastically laughed about not exhibiting as much as court docket.

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Esalava hopes the town goes past a second movement.

“He actually disregarded the court docket. Disregarded the neighborhood that he serves. So I am unsure if he’ll ever be stopped,” stated Eslava.

Chiu stated Lacayo may face bigger penalties if he’s caught offering authorized immigration providers after the newest movement.

“There are potential felony penalties,” stated Chiu.

The brand new movement extends the 2017 injunction by 5 years.

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