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EOIR News

Department of Justice

Executive Office for Immigration Review

Monday, October 3, 2011

EOIR Announces Latest Disciplinary Actions Under Rules of Professional Conduct
Seven Attorneys Immediately Suspended; Three Receive Final Orders

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has recently taken disciplinary action against three attorneys for violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct for immigration attorneys and representatives.

EOIR announces these disciplinary actions to inform the public about attorneys and representatives who are no longer authorized to represent clients before an immigration tribunal. These names will be added to the list of disciplined immigration attorneys and representatives, which is available here. The list includes links to immediate suspension orders, final orders, and reinstatement orders issued in each disciplinary case.

Disciplinary proceedings begin when the Office of the General Counsel of either EOIR or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, files a Petition for Immediate Suspension and/or a Notice of Intent to Discipline with EOIR's Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The disciplinary action can result in the public censure, suspension, or expulsion of an attorney or representative before the immigration courts, the BIA, and DHS. Before a suspended or expelled attorney can resume the practice of law before the immigration courts, the BIA, or DHS, the BIA must reinstate that attorney.

EOIR has recently taken the following disciplinary actions:

Immediate Suspensions

The BIA ordered the immediate suspension of the following attorneys:

  • Manny Aguja: The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois convicted Mr. Aguja of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. The BIA granted the government's petition for immediate suspension on Sept. 15, 2011, based on Mr. Aguja’s criminal conviction in Illinois and pending final disposition of his case.


  • Raymond G. Hellwig: The Supreme Court of California suspended Mr. Hellwig for nine months for trust account violations, failing to return unearned fees, and committing an act involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption. The BIA granted the government's petition for immediate suspension on Sept. 14, 2011, based on Mr. Hellwig’s suspension in California and pending final disposition of his case.


  • Jack Douglas King: The Supreme Court of Florida suspended Mr. King from the practice of law for 90 days for sharing fees with a non-lawyer, failing to provide competent representation, and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. The BIA granted the government's petition for immediate suspension on Sept. 15, 2011, based on Mr. King’s suspension in Florida and pending final disposition of his case.


  • James Okoro Okorafor: The State Bar of Texas suspended Mr. Okorafor from the practice of law for two years for engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. The BIA granted the government's petition for immediate suspension on Sept. 15, 2011, based on Mr. Okorafor’s suspension in Texas and pending final disposition of his case.


  • Rosaura Del Carmen Rodriguez: The Supreme Court of Washington suspended Ms. Rodriguez from the practice of law on an interim basis pending disciplinary proceedings. The BIA granted the government's petition for immediate suspension on Sept. 14, 2011, based on Ms. Rodriguez’s interim suspension in Washington state and pending final disposition of her case.


  • L. Tod Schlosser: The Supreme Court of Illinois disbarred Mr. Schlosser for failing to act with reasonable diligence and promptness, failing to keep a client reasonably informed regarding the status of a matter, and engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. The BIA granted the government's petition for immediate suspension on Sept. 15, 2011, based on Mr. Schlosser’s disbarment in Illinois and pending final disposition of his case.


  • Timothy Schoenrock: The Supreme Court of Washington suspended Mr. Schoenrock from the practice of law on an interim basis pending disciplinary proceedings. The BIA granted the government's petition for immediate suspension on Sept. 15, 2011, based on Mr. Schoenrock’s interim suspension in Washington state and pending final disposition of his case.

Final Orders of Discipline

  • Gregory Wayne Le Page: A final order of Sept. 22, 2011, suspends Mr. Le Page from practice before immigration tribunals for five years, effective Aug. 11, 2011, based on his resignation from the practice of law in Texas with disciplinary proceedings pending.


  • Scott T. Strack: A final order of Sept. 22, 2011, suspends Mr. Strack from practice before immigration tribunals for one year and one day, effective Aug. 15, 2011, based on his suspension in Hawaii for one year and one day.


  • Donovan E. Thomas: A final order of Sept. 22, 2011, indefinitely suspends Mr. Thomas from practice before immigration tribunals, effective Aug. 11, 2011, based on his consent to disbarment in Maryland.

Background

The Rules of Professional Conduct appear in Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations (8 C.F.R. '' 1003 and 1292). They include provisions specifying grounds for disciplinary action, requirements for receiving and investigating complaints, and procedures for conducting hearings. The rules also authorize the BIA to suspend immediately an attorney or representative who has been subject to disbarment, suspension or resignation with an admission of misconduct as imposed by a federal or state court, or who has been convicted of a serious crime, pending a summary proceeding and final sanction. The Rules of Professional Conduct are available at http://www.justice.gov/eoir/vll/fedreg/2000_2001/fr27jn00R.pdf and http://www.justice.gov/eoir/vll/fedreg/2008_2009/fr18dec08c.pdf.

Additional information about the Attorney Discipline Program can be found here and at http://www.justice.gov/eoir/press/09/AttorneyDisciplineFactSheet.pdf.

- EOIR -

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is an agency within the Department of Justice. Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals interpret and adjudicate immigration cases according to United States immigration laws. EOIR's immigration judges conduct administrative court proceedings in immigration courts located throughout the nation. They determine whether foreign-born individuals—whom the Department of Homeland Security charges with violating immigration law—should be ordered removed from the United States or should be granted relief from removal and be permitted to remain in this country. The Board of Immigration Appeals primarily reviews appeals of decisions by immigration judges. EOIR's Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer adjudicates immigration-related employment cases. EOIR is committed to ensuring fairness in all of the cases it adjudicates.

Executive Office for Immigration Review

Updated August 28, 2015