Nassau Woman Defrauded Immigrants Seeking Help: District Attorney

A Cedarhurst woman was arrested on Thursday for stealing nearly $40,000 from people who were seeking help with their immigration status, the district attorney's office says.

Marie Lisa Smith, 38 -- who also went by Michelle Lewis, Marie Throught and Mchelle Regina Lewis -- was charged with three counts of third-degree grand larceny, three counts of immigrant assistance services fraud, first-degree scheme to defraud and third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.

Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced the arrest of a Cedarhurst woman who allegedly stole nearly $40,000 from at least three victims who were seeking help with their immigration status. If convicted of the top charge, Smith faces a maximum of 2-1/3 to seven years in prison.

“This defendant allegedly victimized vulnerable immigrants by stealing thousands of dollars from them with a bogus promise of assistance with citizenship, green cards and employment,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “Crimes against immigrants are on the rise and our Office of Immigrant Affairs is dedicated to seeking justice for victims regardless of their immigration status.”

Singas said that Smith met her first victim in April 2015 when she hired him to do work on her home. Smith told the man she could help him with his family’s immigration status, Singas said. The man paid Smith $28,500, which was allegedly for an immigration lawyer she knew, according to Singas. Smith provided the man with forged documents that were purported to be from the US Department of Justice and the name of an attorney who had no knowledge of the man's case, Singas said.

That same month, Singas said, Smith met another person through her first victim and said she was willing to sponsor the man for citizenship. Smith allegedly promised that she would give him a job at the nursing home she owned and that he would have working papers within six months, even though Smith does not own or operate a nursing home. The second man paid Smith $3,750, Singas said, and never received a green card or any immigration documents or any nursing home employment.

A third victim met Smith in May 2015. While working at Smith’s house, Singas said she offered him a job at the nursing home she lied about owning. Smith told the man, according to Singas, that he could obtain working papers and then after six months he could apply for a green card. Smith told him that she had an attorney who specialized in immigration law and who would process the papers and application, Singas said. The man paid Smith $6,900, Singas said, but has never received a green card or any other immigration documents or any nursing home employment.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone who believes they may be a victim is encouraged to contact the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office at 516-571-3505.

Photo: Nassau County District Attorney's Office