The United States Department of Justice says a New York immigration attorney filed hundreds of asylum applications she knew contained lies.
Andreea Dumitru. 42, had her immigration law practice based in Queens, New York. According to the DOJ indictment, Dumitru knowingly filed 180 fraudulent asylum applications to the USCIS between 2012 and 2017.
“Dumitru is alleged to have used her trusted position to defraud the government, submitting fraudulent documents to claim asylum. Her alleged actions took up time and resources while those with valid asylum claims waited in line. Now, Dumitru will enter a courtroom as a defendant to face the consequences for her alleged actions,” Angel Melendez, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge, said.
According to investigators, Dumitru is facing one count of asylum fraud and one count of making false statements. She’s facing a maximum of 15 years in prison for both counts.
This attorney will now be headed to the courtroom to defend against these accusations.
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