Waltham Man Falsely Touted Himself as Immigration Lawyer: AG

WALTHAM, MA – A Waltham man and his company have been ordered to pay more than $150,000 after authorities say he falsely claimed to be an attorney specializing in immigration law.

The attorney general's office announced Tuesday that Gerson Barahona knowingly defrauded hundreds of Bay State residents by identifying himself as an immigration lawyer and charging them hundreds or thousands of dollars for legal advice and services.

He also purported to represent clients in immigration matters without proper authorization or accreditation, according to the attorney general.

Barahona and his firm, Gerlatin Modeling and Legal Sub-Contractor Co. LLC, have been ordered to pay $155,760 in restitution, civil penalties and attorney's fees.

"This defendant deceived vulnerable people who trusted him to help them with sensitive immigration matters, resulting in significant personal and financial harm," Attorney General Maura Healey said in an announcement. "Our office will continue to advocate for immigrants and other vulnerable populations by prosecuting those who try to take advantage of them."

In December 2014, the attorney general sought and was granted a preliminary injunction ordering Barahona to cease practicing immigration law.

In its complaint, the office alleged that Barahona charged fees for services that ultimately did not benefit his clients, including helping them apply for programs for which they were ineligible - a fact, the AG said, he either knew or should have known.

Barahona is commissioned as a notary public but not a licensed attorney, according to the complaint. He is also not an "Accredited Representative," a special designation granted by the federal government to a limited number of non-lawyers with an expertise in immigration matters who may represent clients, the complaint stated.

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