Coram attorney, assistant sentenced in immigrant scam

A Coram lawyer has been sentenced to five years in prison for filing false immigration legalization applications and scamming clients out of more than $300,000 in fees.

Thomas Archer, 54, was convicted in federal court in Brooklyn in March of charging more than 230 illegal-immigrant clients between $1,500 and $2,500 to fill out forms applying for legalization, including false affidavits. Not a single application was granted, federal prosecutors said.

He was sentenced Wednesday. An assistant, Rukhsana Rafique, 46, was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in prison for her role in the scheme. The two were also ordered to pay $309,500 in restitution to their clients.

Witnesses in the case included four former clients from Pakistan and Guyana, who testified they knew they didn't meet requirements for legalization but that applications were submitted anyway.

When applicants were called for DHS interviews, they were instructed not to go and the attorney withdrew the paperwork.

Archer and Rafique had each faced up to 10 years in prison for visa fraud and 5 years for conspiracy.