Immigrant scam victims being deported (UPI c/o Times of the Internet)

Immigrant scam victims being deported

CLINTON, Utah, Sept. 14 (UPI) --

Six immigrants allegedly victimized by a Utah woman in a legal residency scam have been deported before they could testify in the matter, a lawyer says.

Attorney Aaron Tarin said at least six of the immigrants set to testify against Leticia Avila of Clinton have been deported before they can testify how Avila allegedly falsely claimed she could help them obtain legal residency in the United States, The Salt Lake Tribune said Sunday.

"We're in a race against immigration to get justice," Tarin said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement began deportation proceedings against the immigrants after a federal investigation into Avila did not result in criminal charges.

Tarin said the targeted immigrants only came forward to testify because it was implied they would somehow be legally protected from being deported.

Avila is accused in a Utah State Bar complaint of posing as an attorney and collecting funds from 17 immigrants as payment for legal residency efforts she never completed.

The Tribune said Avila denied the allegations and filed a counter-complaint against the immigrants and their attorneys that seeks at least $3.5 million in damages for alleged acts of slander.