A Houston immigration attorney is facing severe federal charges after allegedly preying on vulnerable clients seeking legal work status in the United States. Alla Karash Nowowiejski, 44, has been arrested and formally indicted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas on mail fraud and making false statements charges.
According to the federal indictment, Nowowiejski accepted payments from clients who hired her to help establish or adjust their employment status. However, prosecutors allege she repeatedly failed to file the necessary applications, or only submitted incomplete portions of them, while keeping her clients' money.
Fake Documents and Stolen Case Numbers
The most alarming allegations involve the extreme lengths Nowowiejski allegedly took to cover up the unfiled paperwork. When clients inquired about the status of their visas, she is accused of providing them with falsified documents. Furthermore, prosecutors state she gave clients actual case reference numbers tied to active immigration cases belonging to entirely different people.
These fabricated records and stolen numbers were allegedly used to make clients believe immigration authorities were actively processing their applications, trapping them in a cycle of false hope that investigators say continued for an extended period.
More Than 100 Potential Victims Identified
The Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Office, which played a key role in the investigation, noted that authorities have already identified more than 100 potential victims tied to the scheme.
"Immigrants are already facing so many challenges, and the last thing people need is to be manipulated by a lawyer deceiving them," said Harris County Pct. 1 Constable Alan Rosen. "We could not allow that to happen, so we stepped in, investigated, and prevented the defendant from preying on this community any further."
If convicted, Nowowiejski faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Authorities are actively searching for additional victims. Constable Rosen emphasized that anyone who believes they may have been defrauded should contact the Precinct 1 Constable Office at (713) 755-5200, explicitly noting, "We serve everyone regardless of their immigration status."
Sources
- FOX 26 Houston | Immigration Attorney Arrested, Accused of Mail Fraud
- Shepelsky Law | Immigration Attorney Arrested in Houston for Alleged Fraud Scheme
For more Houston coverage, see the oWire Houston hub or read our reporting on the Access DX laboratory fraud settlement and the Emylee Thai FBI fugitive case.