Criminal Defense Lawyers

NYC Immigration Fraud Lawyers

Immigration fraud is a huge concern among state and federal authorities. Law enforcement members are very zealous about prosecuting immigration fraud. If you’re facing a possible immigration fraud conviction, understand that an immigration fraud conviction can wreak havoc on your background, and it could lead to deportation if you’re not a US citizen. To avoid this, you need to speak to our NYC immigration fraud lawyers. Immigration fraud is an umbrella term which covers a lot of things. A charge of immigration fraud can involve perjury, theft, scams, felonies, or even misdemeanors. Fraud cannot be the result of an accident, or negligent behavior. Authorities in immigration fraud cases have to prove there was an intentional, and purposeful, act. If you can’t prove there was a intentional, or purposeful, motive to do fraud – then this is something our New York immigration fraud lawyers can help with.

Immigration Fraud Lawyer

Immigration fraud can be for any number of crimes. This term refers to any deception, or misconduct, that happens surrounding an immigration, or citizenship issue. Specific examples of immigration fraud our NYC immigration fraud lawyers can help with are:

Sham marriages for gaining entry to USA
Telephone calls from someone pretending to be a US Citizenship and Immigration Services personnel
Businesses that charge outrageous immigration consulting fees
Fraud that involves VISA lottery
Using a false identity on immigration documents
Committing perjury
Stealing the identity of another person for immigration documents
Altering documents
Misrepresenting facts to get immigration benefits
Penalties for Fraud

Spodek Law Group, P.C. - NYC Criminal Attorneys

5.0

Based on 745 reviews

George Fernandez

14:16 30 Apr 24

Excellent 10 out of 10, Helped resolve my case. Jeremy explained everything and made everything easy to understand.

Raj

21:33 24 Apr 24

If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!

Yelva Saint-Preux

19:26 19 Apr 24

I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.

Katherine Sun

18:08 18 Apr 24

my lawyer is Alex Zhik. Efficient, patient and professional

Nun ya

17:48 18 Apr 24

Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.

Keisha Parris

20:45 15 Mar 24

Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.

Taïko Beauty

16:26 15 Mar 24

I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!

K Mar

01:37 25 Jan 24

I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.

There are many penalties for immigration fraud. They have hefty penalties for any form of fraud which occurs within the immigration process. Our NYC immigration fraud attorneys can help you avoid these penalties, such as jail time, financial fines, and legal status. Marriage fraud is one of the most common reasons for immigration fraud. It’s punishable by jail up to 5 years or a maximum fine of $250,000.  In addition, the citizen/spouse who helps you commit the act could face the same punishment.

Under 18 U.S.C. § 1546 – fraud involving VISA or other documents are punishable by the following:

-25 year prison sentence – if the act is done to facilitate terrorism

-20 year prison sentence – if the act is committed to facilitate drug trafficking

-15 year prison sentence –  if the defendant is a repeat offender or has a criminal history

-10 year prison sentence – if the defendant is a first/second time offender

Document fraud is another issue that federal officials try to solve. This is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. This crime can also extend to crimes that involve using false identification documents, using the identification document (which was obtained via fraud means) or participating in false attestation.

Defenses to Immigration Fraud

If you’re facing immigration fraud charges, then you need to speak to our New York immigration fraud lawyers to help build a credible defense for you. One of the ways to help prove you aren’t guilty, is by focusing on intent. The prosecution has to prove you intended on knowingly committing fraud. We will help prove that you didn’t intend to possess false documents, make false statements, or do anything to break the law. We will help prove the prosecutor is incorrect, by focusing on the facts. Accidents, or doing things unknowingly, make it difficult for the prosecutor to charge you with hefty fines or get penalties. If you are accused of entering into a marriage-scam, then the prosecution has to prove you tried to enter into a relationship for the sole purpose of gaining entry to the USA. We can help prove you had no such intent. If you aren’t a citizen, and are here on a VISA, you will face an immigration fraud conviction which can result in a loss of legal status and deportation. We work tirelessly to help you stay in the USA. Our New York immigration fraud lawyers can help you 24/7. We can help you avoid deportation, and more. Immigration fraud can help result in incarceration – we can help you avoid that.

We encourage you to contact our New York immigration fraud lawyers as soon as possible.

NYC Immigration Fraud Through Marriage Lawyers

If you’re being accused of engaging in a fake marriage as a means of getting a green card, then you need expert legal representation. Sham marriages are one that done in order to get around USA immigration laws. For a marriage to be valid under the law, it’s not enough that you have a marriage ceremony. You have to have intent to live in a marital relationship together, and to establish a life together. If you don’t intend on establishing a live together, then marriage is a sham – and you will be criminally prosecuted.

The USCIS focuses on detecting fraud marriages. The USCIS offers believe that 30% of marriages are fraud. To detect fraud, immigration officers will look at documents, and conduct investigations to make sure the marriage is real. The US government has the power to follow a couple around, and investigate their life as much as they want to. they can visit your home, talk to your friends, or interview your employers, etc. They have a duty to understand if the marriage is a sham or not.

What’s a normal marriage in the government’s eyes

Normal marriage means a married couple have a lot in common. They have a common language and religion. They live together, and do things together – like vacation, celebrate important events, join clubs, and have children, etc. Typical couples also combine their money, and aspects of their lives. They share bank and credit cards, and share ownership of the property. They meet each other’s families, etc.

The US immigration office expects applicants to prove they share lives. Applicants will have to provide examples of them coming together in a real marriage. The government will also talk to you, and your spouse.

What to do next

Marriage fraud can take several forms. The immigrant typically pays the citizen to marry, and gives money for the marriage. There are mail-order marriages, where the two people have no preexisting relationship and know the marriage is a fraud. The Immigration and Nationality Act § 275(c); 8 U.S. Code § 1325(c)) says that people who engage in a sham marriage can face prison, or a financial fine, or both. They can go to prison for up to 5 years, and be fined up to $250,000

If you’re charged with marriage fraud, you can also be charged with visa fraud, conspiracy, making false statements, harboring an alien, which all results in additional prison and financial sentences.

If you’re facing criminal charges, contact our criminal attorneys today. Our NYC immigration fraud lawyers can help.

NYC Immigrant Criminal Defense Lawyers

Being charged with a crime is a traumatic experience for most people. If you are an immigrant charged with a crime, the situation is even more complicated because of the serious consequences a criminal conviction can have on your immigration status.

In New York City, with its huge immigration population, hundreds of new arrests happen daily. Many of the people accused of crimes in NYC are immigrants. At Joseph Potashnik and Associates, our NYC Criminal lawyers successfully defend immigrants who are investigated for or have been accused of crimes in state and federal courts.

There are many well-qualified attorneys in New York, but if you are a non-citizen facing criminal charges, you need a criminal lawyer who understands immigration consequences of a conviction. We have represented hundreds of alien clients in criminal matters here in New York City, successfully helping many of them to avoid immigration problems.

We are not immigration lawyers who help clients apply for visas or adjustment of status. Most of our practice is criminal defense and we have handled thousands and thousands of criminal cases in state and federal courts. With our expertise in criminal defense field and our knowledge of immigration law, we can provide our immigrant clients with more than criminal defense. We give them hope at the time future looks grim.

If you are a non-citizen facing criminal charges in New York City, call our NYC criminal lawyers for immigrants today to set up an immediate consultation.

Here is a list of representative cases in which our work saved our clients from deportation:

Represented a green card holder business owner in Brooklyn charged with insurance fraud. We had no defenses strong enough to try the case but we negotiated a plea agreement that allowed the client to plead to a reduced charge in a way that did not qualify an aggravated felony or a crime of moral turpitude.
Represented a visa holding individual accused of theft in Manhattan Supreme Court. If our client pled guilty to the charge, he would have been deported. Instead, we convinced the prosecutor to dismiss the charges.
Represented a client accused of marriage fraud for immigration purposes in Manhattan. Convinced the government to dismiss the charges.
NYC Passport and Visa Fraud Lawyers

There are a number of incidences of passport and visa fraud in New York. The U.S. federal agents who deal with this type of fraud are the law enforcement part of the U.S. Department of State. They are known as Diplomatic Security (DS) Service agents. They work with federal as well as international law enforcement agencies around the world to identify and investigate cases of passport and visa fraud.

Committing Passport Fraud
The goal of those who commit passport or visa fraud is often to obtain the benefit of travel and U.S. residence they would not have with their true identity. The Department of State says there are a few common situations where people commit passport fraud. Many people do this to illegally obtain U.S. citizenship or another form of legitimate status in the United States. Fraudulent U.S. passports are desired by people committing such crimes as alien smuggling as well as drug trafficking and more. They are desired by fugitives as well as individuals trying to change or hide their identity. People committing some form of financial fraud, terrorists and more commonly commit passport and visa fraud.

Types Of Fraud
There are three main types of passport fraud that is investigated. It can occur when a passport applicant knowingly makes a false statement on their application to get a passport for travel. Passport fraud can also occur when an individual attempts to get a passport for another person or group of people. This could involve an individual making a false statement concerning the residence, identities as well a criminal history concerning those they have submitted information for to obtain a passport. When a passport is obtained for the purpose of hiding identity or avoiding detection for travel to another country, it is considered fraud.

Breeder Documents
This is a case of an individual who presents fraudulent identification during the passport application process. This could involve a fake Social Security card, birth certificate or even driver’s license. These are known as breeder documents. These documents could be counterfeit or genuine documents that have been altered. They can also be authentic document obtained using fraudulent methods.

Technology
There is a variety of different types of technology that can be utilized to detect passport fraud. There are current databases around the world that can be used for cross-referencing. Technology that utilizes radio frequency identification has also been able to significantly decrease passport fraud. Technology combined with procedures has caused many criminals to change their focus toward committing passport fraud in countries that don’t have the latest technology.

Filing Charges
DS Agents from the U.S. Department of State as well as FBI conduct investigations concerning any type of alleged passport fraud. If criminal violations appear to have been committed, a federal prosecutor from the office of the U.S. Attorney General may file charges. This will happen if major criminal acts are identified as having been committed. A fraudulent act committed on a smaller scale may be recommended to a state prosecutor in the state where the fraud took place. An individual could be charged with conspiracy based on Title 18, United States Code section 371. They could also be covered with conspiracy to commit wire or mail fraud. This is identified in title 18, United States Code section 1349.

Punishment
Should a person be found guilty of lying on a passport application, the first offense could get them a fine of up to $250,000. They could also be given a prison sentence of up to ten years. Should the fraud conviction also involve trafficking in narcotics, an individual could also be given a prison term of up to 15 years. Should the passport fraud involve some form of international terrorism, the penalty could be up to 20 years in prison. When other types of illegal activities are involved, an individual could face charges and penalties in addition to passport and visa fraud.

National Security Threat
Hundreds of thousand of passports are stolen and fraudulently used by dangerous criminals and terrorists each year. Passport fraud is considered one of the single most significant threats to national security in the United States. When someone is suspected of committing passport fraud, the U.S. government will consider this person to be engaged in serious criminal activity and a threat to national security. Should an individual have committed passport or visa fraud, they need to contact an attorney as soon as possible.