A case number can mean a great deal when someone’s ability to work in the United States depends on a government application. Federal prosecutors say a Houston immigration attorney gave some clients numbers that were real, just not theirs.
Alla Nowowiejski, 44, was taken into custody Wednesday after a federal grand jury charged her with mail fraud and making false statements. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas says clients had paid her to establish or adjust their work status and apply for work visas.
Some applications never reached immigration authorities. Others were submitted only in part.
The indictment also says she gave clients false documents.
Texas-Sized
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The Office of Constable Alan Rosen, Harris County Constable Precinct 1, says its detectives opened the investigation that led to the federal charges.
Precinct 1 says detectives identified more than 100 people who paid Nowowiejski for immigration help.
Years Spent Waiting
Houston-based Audubon Engineering Operations and five of its employees sued Nowowiejski in December 2023. A February 2024 filing seeking default judgment says she gave clients falsified federal immigration documents. Audubon said it had received more than $100,000 in legal bills for her work.
The five employees were trying to secure lawful immigration status and citizenship in the United States. They said Nowowiejski’s work set those efforts back by years.
The filing says their immigration cases would require substantial corrective work.
The plaintiffs said Nowowiejski did not return client records and misrepresented what had happened with their immigration filings. Several employees also accused her of grossly neglecting work she had been hired to perform.
Audubon and the employees brought claims for negligence, gross negligence, legal malpractice, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
They asked the court for damages and attorney fees. The plaintiffs also sought the return or forfeiture of fees paid to Nowowiejski based on their breach-of-fiduciary-duty claim.
The filing followed Nowowiejski’s failure to answer or otherwise appear in the lawsuit by the required deadline.
Still Looking
Constable Alan Rosen is asking anyone else who believes they were affected to contact his office.
“Immigrants are already facing so many challenges, and the last thing people need is to be manipulated by a lawyer deceiving them,” Rosen said.
Rosen also addressed people who might hesitate to call because of their immigration status.
“We serve everyone regardless of their immigration status,” Rosen said. “If you are a victim of this lawyer, please let us know.”
The office can be reached at 713-755-5200.
The State Bar of Texas currently lists Nowowiejski as administratively suspended and ineligible to practice law in Texas.
Nowowiejski made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett on September 9.
The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated, with assistance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Harris County Precinct 1. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter is prosecuting.
If convicted, Nowowiejski faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
An arrest or criminal charge is not a finding of guilt. A person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.