Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of PABLO ISRAEL ORTEGA CUENCA, 33, for posing as an immigration attorney to numerous people and collecting thousands of dollars in legal fees from them. CUENCA is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with two counts of Immigrant Assistance Services in the First Degree, two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. [1] 

“As alleged, New Yorkers looking to become permanent residents trusted Pablo Israel Ortega Cuenca to provide them with legal services, and he broke that trust by taking advantage of them and putting them at risk of deportation,” said District Attorney Bragg. “If you believe you or someone you know has been a victim of this type of fraud, we urge you to call our office’s Immigration Affairs Unit hotline at 212-335-3600 or via WhatsApp at 347-371-0877. Interpreters are available to assist non-native English speakers and we encourage all to reach out regardless of immigration status.” 

According to court documents and statements made on the record, from February 2017 until at least October 2019, CUENCA defrauded clients by misleading them about his professional status and the fees required to file certain immigration applications. In at least one instance, he advised an individual to submit a meritless asylum claim, and in others he failed file applications or communicate court dates. 

CUENCA misled at least two people into believing that he was an immigration attorney and in doing so also held himself out as either an attorney with the Center for Migration Studies, an employee of the Spanish Consulate, or as a government immigration official.  Based on these representations, CUENCA received over $11,000 in legal fees from multiple people. 

The Manhattan D.A.’s Immigrant Affairs Unit 

Our Immigrant Affairs Unit prosecutes cases involving scams and fraud affecting New York’s diverse immigrant communities. Whether you are documented or undocumented under federal law, our Office is here to protect your safety and your rights. We encourage all victims of immigration fraud to come forward. Our newest Immigrant Affairs Coordinator, Emely Salazar Perez, focuses on community outreach and providing immigrants with resources to make their transition into Manhattan easier. If you believe you or someone you know has been a victim of this type of fraud, we urge you to call our office’s Immigration Affairs Unit hotline at 212-335-3600 or via WhatsApp at 347-371-0877. Interpreters are available to assist non-native English speakers and we encourage all to reach out regardless of immigration status. 

We urge you to use care when seeking legal services, including asking your attorney where they are registered to practice. Our new palm card makes it easy to find free legal assistance, search for your attorney’s registration and to check for any disciplinary proceedings against them!

Chief of the Immigrant Affairs Unit Luis Morales and Assistant D.A. Stephen MacArthur (Financial Frauds Bureau) are handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of. Assistant District Attorneys Hope Korenstein (Deputy Bureau Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau), Kofi Sansculotte (Bureau Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau), and Jodie Kane (Chief of the Rackets Bureau and Acting Chief of the Investigation Division). 

The investigation was led by Investigators Danielle Diaz and Genesis Cornielle, and Senior Investigator Patrick Lee under the supervision of Sgt. Daniel Clark-El. Paralegal Krisellie Acevedo, Analyst Emily Becker, and Immigrant Affairs Program Coordinator Emely Salazar Perez assisted with the investigation. The Spanish Language Unit also provided support. Former Immigrant Affairs Program Coordinator Samantha Flores and former Law Intern Yefren Rojas also assisted with the case. 

Defendant Information: 

PABLO ISRAEL ORTEGA CUENCA 

New York, NY 

Charged: 

• Immigrant Assistance Services in the First Degree, a class E felony, two counts
• Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, two counts
• Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count 

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court