Cuomo sues companies that scammed Haitian earthquake victims, refugees

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Cuomo sues companies that scammed Haitian earthquake victims, refugees
By CHUCK BENNETT
Last Updated: 1:36 PM, June 8, 2010
Posted: 1:28 PM, June 8, 2010
Dozens of earthquake-fleeing Haitians thought their worst enemy was Mother Nature -- that is until greedy immigration-scam artists in Brooklyn got their hooks into them.

Several small businesses that purported to provide immigration advice for Haitians displaced by last January's massive earthquake simply fleeced them for thousands of dollars, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo charged today.

The firms, none of which employed any real attorneys, collected huge fees to file immigration paperwork that should have been free or often did nothing at all, according to the civil lawsuits filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.

"In light of the recent devastating earthquake in Port-au-Prince, New York's Haitian residents have sadly been a target for immigration scams, bringing further pain to a community that has already suffered so much," Cuomo said.

Brooklyn resident Jean Michel's Chay Pa Lou Community Center and Delegue Tax Consultant were hit with lawsuits by Cuomo.

Also sued were Richner's Multi-service run by Deslande Seixas-Rincher and Sharlene Seixas-Rincher.

The three were not immediately available for comment.

After the Jan. 12 earthquake, the US Department of Homeland Security allowed Haitians already in the US to received "temporary protected status" and remain for 18 months no matter what their legal status was.

DHS further eliminated fees for applying for temporary protected status.

But the Brooklyn firms allegedly preyed on their clients' ignorance of the rules and collected fat fees for little or no work.

Jean Michel was charged with 100 violations of state law and the Sexias-Rinchers allegedly committed 30 violations.

In addition to freezing their assets, Cuomo is seeking a $7,500 penalty for every violation plus restitution to the victims.

chuck.bennett at nypost.com

The Dark Knight, June 8 2010, 6:12 PM

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Good info Dark Knight. Keep up with the good work. read more >
Dr. Feel Bad, 9-Jun-10 1:16 am

 

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