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The ages of attorneys are at the time of State Bar Report.
PHILIP DENNIS ABRAMOWITZ [#81434]
DANIEL KORENBERG [#71536]
STEVEN RODRIGUEZ [#162213]
PAULINO ALMANDO AQUINO [#85859]
JAMES BEIRNE [#163755]
NORBERTO F. REYES III [#158569]
PHILIP DENNIS ABRAMOWITZ [#81434], 56, of Sherman Oaks, disbarred August 21, 2009.
DANIEL KORENBERG [#71536], 60, of Sherman Oaks, disbarred October 9, 2009.
STEVEN RODRIGUEZ [#162213], 43, of Thousand Oaks, disbarred December 10, 2009.
Three attorneys, two name partners and a senior associate with one of the largest immigration law firms on the West Coast, have been summarily disbarred following convictions for felonies stemming from a visa fraud scheme. Because the crimes also entailed moral turpitude, they met the criteria for summary disbarment.
The attorneys were charged with manipulating the visa process and filing thousands of phony applications for foreign nationals, some of whom were hired by the firm for fake jobs and paid in cash while their documents cleared.
Abramowitz originally was charged with a paralegal of participating in the scheme and pleaded guilty to two counts of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. He was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and three months of home detention and was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.
According to Balita, a media company serving the Filipino-American community, Abramowitz represented more than 100 Filipino veterans who fought for the United States in World War II to gain American citizenship. The news service described him as a hero to Filipino-American war veterans.
His partner, Korenberg, pleaded guilty to two counts of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. He was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, three years of probation, six months of home detention and was slapped with a $750,000 fine.
Rodriguez was sentenced to three years of probation, six months of home detention and 200 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
"These sentences are stern reminders about the consequences awaiting those who conspire to compromise the integrity of our nation’s legal immigration system," said Jennifer Silliman, deputy special agent in charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigations office in Los Angeles. "Disturbingly," she added, "the defendants in this case used their expertise in immigration law not for the greater good but to undermine the system and enrich themselves."
Korenberg and Rodriguez were charged in a 33-count indictment that detailed how the firm filed fraudulent employment-based visa petitions on behalf of foreign nationals seeking temporary work authorization or permanent residency in the U.S. At least 19 individuals who benefited from the scheme worked for the law firm, according to the indictment.
Federal law enforcement officials said the firm improperly hired foreign nationals for a variety of positions, including paralegal jobs. They were paid "off the books" in cash until their visas were approved.
The indictment charged that Korenberg and others created documents that made false claims about the aliens' work experience and offers of employment.
Two Los Angeles-area employment agencies also were targeted in the probe, which resulted in the conviction of four individuals associated with the agencies.
The scheme lasted from 2000 through February 2003. The investigation revealed that the employment agencies identified employers, both real and fictitious, to attest that the aliens seeking the work visas were being recruited for highly skilled jobs that in most instances did not exist.
Employment-based visas normally are issued when a business in the U.S. needs a person to fill a specific job and is unable to find a qualified employee in the American labor pool. The business can file a petition to allow a particular person, supposedly qualified to fill the position, to enter the United States to work for the business.
Headquartered in Encino, the firm had branches in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas.
References: Three summarily disbarred for visa fraud scheme
Korenberg Gets Two Years in Federal Prison, Abramowitz Set for March 24
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PAULINO ALMANDO AQUINO [#85859], 48, San Gabriel (January 17, 1990).
Aquino was convicted in federal court of conspiracy and multiple violations of the immigration and naturalization laws. Aquino had engaged in a fraudulent scheme involving sham marriages which was aimed at obtaining permanent resident status for Philippine citizens. The Supreme Court held that Aquino's serious misconduct in the course of his law practice, which included advising clients to commit perjury, warranted disburment despite the presence of mitigating circumstances such as Aquino's record of community service and evidence of his rehabilitation.
Reference: California Lawyer Magazine
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Exchange of E-mails between Attorney Allison Aquino, the partner of Attoney Paulino Almando Aquino, and Fil-Am Attorney Watch
JAMES BEIRNE [#163755], 45, of Woodland Hills was suspended for 18 months, stayed, and placed on probation for two years on the condition he is actually suspended for 30 days, effective Feb. 21, 1998. He was ordered to pass the MPRE.
Beirne's troubles stemmed from his ownership of a credit repair business and his relationship with the two other non-attorney partners.
In one instance, Beirne signed Chapter 13 bankruptcy documents prepared by his partners, but never met with the client. He allowed non-attorneys to consult with clients and prepare documents without his supervision, beyond the scope permitted by bankruptcy laws.
One of Beirne's partners wrote a column for a local Filipino newspaper which offered legal advice dealing with bankruptcy, foreclosure and immigration matters.
The phone number of the credit repair business was affixed to the column, soliciting calls for free consultations.
Beirne reviewed the articles before they were published, but he allowed general legal advice to be dispensed by a non-lawyer through the newspaper column.
In another case, Beirne advised a client he could transfer the title of some property to another individual and file for bankruptcy without legal consequences.
The client paid Beirne $2,800 for legal services on behalf the individual, who later learned from another attorney that such a title transfer was illegal. Beirne then filed a motion to dismiss the bankruptcy filing.
A malpractice judgment in favor of the client, who sued because Beirne provided illegal advice, resulted in the order for Beirne to reimburse the fees. He has failed to do.
In mitigation, Beirne acted in good faith and cooperated with the bar's investigation. In addition, he suffered extreme difficulties in his personal life at the time of his misconduct, including illnesses of relatives which required him to travel to northern California frequently.
He recently completed training in a domestic violence program in order to provide pro bono legal services in the Los Angeles area.
As a condition of probation, Beirne must make restitution.
Reference: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=163755
Atty. James Beirne Paying Witnesses to Lie Against Atty. Joel Bander?
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NORBERTO F. REYES III [#158569], 45, of Anaheim was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Oct. 23, 2004.
Reyes stipulated to misconduct in two matters. In the first, he commingled personal and client funds in his trust account and issued checks against insufficient funds in the account.
In a personal injury case, he deposited two checks totaling $16,000 in his client trust account, but allowed the balance to fall below the required amount. A check he wrote to reimburse the insurance company for medical payments was returned because the trust account was closed. In that matter, he stipulated to two counts of failing to maintain client funds in a client trust account.
Reyes was privately reproved in 1996 for failing to return client phone calls.
In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar’s investigation and demonstrated remorse for his wrongdoing.
Fil-Am-Attorney-Watch.com has received reports that Attorney Norberto Reyes told clients to stop paying their mortgage and took their money. If you have information about these activities, please help protect our community.
Reference: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=158569
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