The State Bar of California moved this week to shut down an Artesia immigration office after investigators say a local man posed as an attorney and collected hefty fees for work that never got done. Officials identified the suspect as John Pamintuan Alamarez Jr., a pastor who allegedly leaned on his church role to persuade members to trust him with their immigration paperwork. Several Filipino clients say they lost substantial sums of money and were left with immigration cases in limbo.
According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, the State Bar's Office of Chief Trial Counsel obtained an interim court order to seize the business, and agents hauled away 21 boxes of client files, a laptop and at least one passport from Alamarez's Artesia office. Court papers state that Alamarez operated under the names "Immigration Law Services" and "Immigration Services Law Office" and urged clients to call him an attorney, even though he has never held a California law license. A complaint that helped trigger the bar probe came from licensed attorneys who had cut ties with Alamarez and from the daughter of a lawyer who previously employed him.
State Bar Steps In To Protect Client Records
The Office of Chief Trial Counsel can seek interim court orders to quickly take control of a business and protect client files while investigators sort out what happened. A recent operation in Livermore shows the State Bar can also freeze bank accounts and recover records to keep legal matters from falling apart during an inquiry, according to the State Bar of California.
Clients Say Trust Was Abused
People who worked with Alamarez told investigators they believed they were getting legitimate legal help in part because of his position in the church, but say their cases were mishandled and their money taken without real progress. The complaint and related court filings reported on by journalists describe clients scrambling afterward to hire licensed lawyers and to track down key documents needed for ongoing immigration filings.
Where To Turn If You Were Affected
If you paid fees to Alamarez or believe your immigration case was harmed, you can contact the State Bar's consumer assistance resources and consider filing a complaint for the unauthorized practice of law. The State Bar of California offers a multilingual hotline at 800-843-9053 and online guidance. The FTC also urges people to report suspected immigration scams so regulators can track patterns and repeat offenders.
What The Law Says
California law tightly limits who can provide legal advice about immigration and spells out consumer protections for anyone working with immigration consultants or licensed attorneys. Practicing law without authorization can lead to civil penalties and, in some situations, criminal liability. The state code explains how to report problems and how regulators can step in, according to California law.
