Aug 24, 2009 12:35 pm US/Pacific
Ex-Armenian Consul Charged In Immigrant Scam
SANTA ANA (AP) ―
-
-
Immigration officials say that Ghalumian, and others, helped undocumented Armenian immigrants avoid deportation illegally. (File)
CBS News
A former Armenian consul in Los Angeles has pleaded not guilty to a charge of obstructing immigration proceedings in an alleged document scam aimed at helping immigrants avoid deportation.
Prosecutor Sandy Leal said Norair Ghalumian pleaded not guilty to the charge in federal court in Santa Ana on Monday.
She says four other defendants facing similar charges in a total of four cases also pleaded not guilty.
Immigration officials accuse Ghalumian and the others, including a former consular employee and an immigration attorney, of selling letters to immigrants facing deportation to help block their return to Armenia.
Ghalumian served as consul in Los Angeles from 1999 to 2003.
A message was left Monday for Ghalumian's attorney Anthony Brooklier.
(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Stars Rock The Grammys
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments