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HICKSVILLE---A Columbian native will serve one to three years in state for her planning and execution of a scheme to defraud victims of immigrant families who paid her to obtain green cards for themselves and their family members.
Clementina McDermott, 62, of Scooter Lane, Hicksville was sentenced by Judge George Peck. She must also repay $31,925.50 to the 11 victims.
On March 7, McDermott pleaded guilty to the top count in the indictment, forgery in the second degree, a class D felony, and scheme to defraud in the first degree, a class E felony.
According to the Nassau County district attorney's office, McDermott was paid between $260 and $3,000 by 11 immigrants to obtain green cards. No green cards were secured by the defendant. In two instances, Ms. McDermott submitted applications and fees that were rejected by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly the I.NS) and sent back to her; she failed to return the monies to the victims. In several instances, despite the fact that she collected fees from the immigrants to send applications to Immigrations Services, she did no work and kept the money. Several of the money orders that she collected from the victims, which were intended to be sent to Immigration Services, were deposited into her personal bank account.
She is expected to be deported to Colombia upon the completion of her sentence. 4-24-06
© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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