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Fake immigrant lawyer arrested in New York

A fake lawyer has possibly collected over $ 1 million from immigrants, including a substantial number of Indians, immigration department sources say.

Right now, though, prosecutors in New York say they have enough evidence to show that Curtis Van Stuyvesant has cheated 300 clients for nearly $ 400,000. Among other things, he had told them that he has offices worldwide and has practised immigration law for over a decade.

''It is not just money that is involved,'' says one immigration department source. ''This case is about shattered dreams, and anxiety caused to scores of people.'' The fake lawyer faces up to 60 years in prison, the Manhattan district attorney's office said this weekend.

Van Stuyvesant, who is set free on a $ 75,000 bail, has pleaded not guilty. He was arrested on Friday in a New York court when he made a court appearance on an unrelated matter.

Patrick Young, chairman of the board of the New York Immigration Coalition, who was instrumental in tipping the authorities about Van Stuyvesant, said the arrest was significant because law enforcement officials often ignore complaints against fraudulent lawyers and conmen, partly because the complaints are too many.

Some officials believe those immigration-related scams net over $ 1 billion to lawyers, conmen, ship and bus operators who help smuggle the human cargo across Mexico and Canada into the United States.

Young says to millions of would-be refugees so very often every smooth-tongued charlatan appears to be the right person.

''The charges against Van Stuyvesant are unusual,'' Young said. ''We wish to see many more scam artists arrested.''

According to prosecutors, Van Stuyvesant had clients from more than 12 nations. In the Caribbean, he reportedly targeted not only the natives but Indians and Chinese who had landed there first, with the hope of finding a way into America. Some clients had paid him as much as $ 10,000, in some cases all their life savings, officials believe.

The fake firm Van Stuyvesant created boasted of offices in the United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and the Cayman Islands.

Immigration insiders believe he was about to create ''offices'' in India and Sri Lanka. Most of the offices were post office boxes that sent mail to New York. In some cases, Stuyvesant allegedly roped in local lawyers who apparently did not question his credentials, or knowingly went into the scheme.

Often, Stuyvesant targeted immigrants in America who wanted to bring in their family members or friends. He also sought to do business with illegal immigrants in America who want to straighten their status. He advertised in a number of community newspapers and radio stations.

It is not known if the 44-year-old Stuyvesant, a New York resident, has been involved in other scams but officials say that the current charges involve his operations since last March when he went into the immigration business. He offered his clients green cards, citizenship and a slew of immigration services.

Most clients either paid the full fee upfront or put down about 25 per cent of the fee as down payment.

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