Dumitru’s law firm on Skillman Avenue (Google)
March 29, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez
A Sunnyside immigration attorney has been charged with asylum fraud and making false statements on asylum applications for clients.
Andreea Dumitru, whose law firm is located at 48-23 Skillman Avenue, is alleged to have submitted fraudulent forms for over 180 clients with statements and items she knew to be false, according to the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office.
The indictment alleges that between 2012 and 2017, Dumitru signed off on false stories about her clients’ criminal histories, personal narratives or alleged persecution.
“Dumitru is alleged to have used her trusted position to defraud the government, submitting fraudulent documents to claim asylum,” said Angel M. Melendez, of Homeland Security Investigations. “Her alleged actions took up time and resources while those with valid asylum claims waited in line. Now, Dumitru will enter a courtroom as a defendant to face the consequences for her alleged actions.”
Dumitru is charged with one count of asylum fraud, which has a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of and making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years.
Dumitru was also the former business partner of Gene Friedman, also known as the “Taxi King”. Both were accused last year of failing to pay over $5 million to the MTA.
