| ► Attorney Joseph Coco of Danbury, CT; ethical dwarf |
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Attorney Joseph Coco of Danbury, CT; ethical dwarf
The state of Connecticut provided Joseph Charles Coco with a law license in 1988.
The Statewide Grievance Committee found Myles guilty of the following misconduct.
In one matter, Rossanna Bressler agreed to act as the sponsor for Teltna Alecirin regarding her application for an immigrant visa. Ms. Alecrim was a citizen of Brazil and provided housecleaning services for Ms. Bressler.
Subsequently, Ms. Alecrim and her husband met with Jackson DeSouza, whom they believed was an attorney, at his office at Immigrant’s Services, LLC. DeSouza advised Ms. Alecrim that she and her husband were eligible for green cards and that he would do the necessary work to obtain approval. DeSouza then spoke with Ms. Bressler and explained the process, including that she could sponsor Ms. Alecrim for a green card and that he would do all of the work. Thereafter, Ms. Bressler and Alecrim hired DeSouza to prepare an employment green card application.
De Souza then prepared an application for Alien Employment Certification for filing with the US Labor Dept. (DOL) and the US Citizen and Immigration Services (CIS). DeSouza then referred the Bressler and Alecrim immigration matter to Joseph. They signed Joseph’s fee agreement reflecting the hiring of Immigrant’s Services for document preparation and collection and Joseph as legal counsel. Ms. Alecrim paid a total of $6,000 in fees to Immigrant Services and DeSouza in regards to the immigration matter. Subsequently, Ms. Alecrim’s application for a green card was denied and she was placed in deportation proceedings.
Mr. DeSouza was not an attorney and was merely an employee of Immigrant’s Services. Joseph was the agent for Immigrant Services. Joseph and Immigrant’s Services shared office space and also shared a fax number. Joseph’s name appeared on the office door of Immigrant’s Services. Joseph’s name also appeared together with Immigrant’s Services in advertisements in a Danbury newspaper stating “we are a team to help you.”
The Grievance Committee concluded that Joseph unlawfully assisted DeSouza in the unauthorized practice of law by sharing office space with Immigrant’s Services, maintaining his name on its offices door, and accepting referral of Ms. Alecrim’s immigration matter from Immigrant’s Services. Moreover, Joseph never spoke or met with Ms. Alecrim even though he was his client.
As a consequence of his misconduct, the enablers for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Statewide Grievance Committee punished Myles by gifting him with a complimentary reprimand.
As we speak (ca. November 2012) Joseph continues to practice in the Danbury, Connecticut area.
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