Our diversity as New Yorkers has been a longstanding source of pride. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is committed to bringing to justice those individuals who victimize diverse communities, including those who target and steal from immigrants through a variety of fraudulent schemes.

In April 2011, we announced the conviction, after trial, of a man for posing as an immigration services provider employed by the United Nations and stealing thousands of dollars from a number of Haitian immigrant victims (see press release). On July 18, 2011, this man was sentenced to serve an aggregate sentence of 5-10 years in state prison.

In January of 2011, Rafael Masso was sentenced to two to six years in state prison for defrauding Dominican immigrants by purporting to be a Sergeant with the federal immigration authorities providing legal services (see press release).

In December of 2010, we announced the conviction, after trial, of a man who posed and operated a business as an Immigration Consultant to prey on the Chinese Immigrant Community and stole thousands of dollars. In February of 2011, this man was sentenced to serve a total prison term of 3 to 9 years in prison (see press release).

Our Immigrant Affairs Program provides a safety net for a community whose members may fear cooperating with law enforcement because of their immigration status. It operates a hotline (212-335-3600) that fields complaints from members of the public who believe they may have fallen victim to a crime. The majority of the complaints received by the District Attorney’s Office pertain to individuals who represent themselves as attorneys, immigration consultants, or who provide legal advice when they are not licensed or authorized to do so. Since its formation in 2007, the Immigrant Affairs Program has handled more than 2000 complaints. Victims who call the District Attorney’s Office can do so regardless of their immigration status, as it is the practice of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office to protect the integrity of victims and not report their immigration status to the federal government.