Suspended NY Attorney Takes Plea in Law Firm Immigration Scheme, Must Forfeit $2.5M
A suspended New York attorney who fled to Canada in 2006 when he heard he and his law firm were being targeted in an immigration probe has taken a plea after being arrested and extradited to the United States last year.
Earl Seth David pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and wire fraud. Prosecutors are expected to recommend approximately six to eight years in prison when he is sentenced in federal court in Manhattan, Reuters reports. He will also be required to forfeit $2.5 million.
Prosecutors said David charged up to $30,000 to provide clients with letters falsely purporting to show that individuals had come to this country legally. As the author, under the name of Earl Avraham David, of a Hebrew numerology book Code of the Heart published in 2003, he also allegedly made use of a bank account set up in connection with the book to continue raking in money from the immigration scheme after he fled to Canada.
He was suspended from law practice in 2004.
