Criminal Justice
Miami Court Worker Charged in Quickie Divorce Scam
Posted Jan 15, 2008, 11:11 am CST
By Martha Neil
A 16-year employee of the Miami-Dade clerk of courts office has been charged with using her now-former job to scam couples seeking quickie divorces.
Olga Avila allegedly charged couples she met through the courts' Self Help program $670, of which $364 represented filing fees she paid. Authorities say she filled out divorce paperwork, had it fraudulently notarized and used contacts in the clerk's office the expedite the hearing process, reports the Miami Herald.
She was charged with 52 counts, including fraud and unlawful compensation.