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SALT LAKE CITY -- A group of immigrants trying to renew their visas to stay in the county hired a person they thought was an attorney back in 2006. They say they paid Leticia Avila, who is a legal assistant, thousands of dollars to help them get new visas, but they say they didn't receive the help they paid for.
Attorney Aaron Teran is now representing some of the immigrants. He says when the group went to immigration agents to report the crime, they were told they would get workers' visas or green cards if they would testify in the case. Three years later no charges have been filed against Avila.
Teran tells KSL Newsradio immigration agents let the case go cold, but the Utah State Bar has filed a complaint.
However, some of the immigrants who came forward were deported before they were given the chance to testify in the case.
"The message here is don't come forward regardless of what crime is committed because you may end up getting deported," said Teran. "Sadly that's been the reality in this case."
The State Bar is trying to stop Avila from practicing law and to get restitution for the victims.
Avila has filed a counter-complaint, accusing the immigrants and their attorneys of slander, and she's seeking monetary damages.
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
