Houston Immigration Attorney Charged In Alleged Mail Fraud Scheme

HOUSTON, Texas (TXAN 24) — A Houston immigration attorney has been arrested and charged with mail fraud and making false statements in connection with an alleged scheme involving clients seeking immigration assistance and work visas, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Alla Nowowiejski, 44, was taken into custody and made her initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett.

According to an indictment, Nowowiejski accepted payments from clients who hired her to help establish or adjust their immigration status and apply for work visas.

Prosecutors allege that some of the applications were never submitted, while others were only partially submitted.

The indictment also alleges Nowowiejski provided clients with false documents and case reference numbers associated with active immigration cases belonging to other people. Prosecutors say those documents and numbers were used to give clients the impression that their immigration applications were being processed.

The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, with assistance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 1.

If convicted, Nowowiejski faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a potential fine of up to $250,000. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct and is not evidence of guilt. Nowowiejski is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.