New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has filed a lawsuit against a number of immigration legal aid providers for “allegedly using a multi-part scheme to deceive immigrants.”

DCWP accused Angel G. Buitron of Buitron Offices & Associates of posing as a renowned lawyer with an expertise in complex immigration cases despite not having a license to practice law anywhere. Buitron allegedly charged immigrants up to $30,000 for legal help and then had Susana T. Abarca, of the Law Office of Susana Abarca, PLLC, appear in immigration court for him, often without the immigrant client’s knowledge.

Buitron previously entered into a settlement agreement to resolve similar allegations. Read DCWP’s press release.