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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
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Unlicensed Valley Lawyer Convicted

Jesus Lozano, who worked as an immigration attorney at a Van Nuys office, entered a no contest plea on Wednesday to charges that he didn’t have a license to practice law. Lozano, 52, was the subject of a 2003 permanent injunction following a civil lawsuit by Neighborhood Legal Services for the unlicensed practice of immigration law. But in December, following up on a complaint, undercover investigators with the L.A. County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs visited his office where he gave them legal advice in violation of the injunction. He pleaded no contest to criminal counts for the unauthorized practice of law, failing to post proper bonds and violation of the injunction. Sentencing was delayed for three months to allow the City Attorney’s Office to complete its investigation and identify the amount of restitution owed to victims. Lozano is cooperating with authorities. The California State Bar will assume control of Lozano’s law practice and will act on their behalf in court if necessary. “Preventing immigration fraud schemes from ripping off families and destroying their dreams is a top priority,” City Attorney Mike Feuer said in a statement. “This conviction sends a strong message that we will prosecute those who prey on the immigrant community to the fullest extent of the law.”

Joel Russel
Joel Russel
Joel Russell joined the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2006 as a reporter. He transferred to sister publication San Fernando Valley Business Journal in 2012 as managing editor. Since he assumed the position of editor in 2015, the Business Journal has been recognized four times as the best small-circulation tabloid business publication in the country by the Alliance of Area Business Publishers. Previously, he worked as senior editor at Hispanic Business magazine and editor of Business Mexico.

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