The State Bar of California announced today the seizure of the unauthorized law practice of John Minnella of Tustin, following an investigation sparked by a Mexican immigrant who paid Minnella thousands of dollars for immigration legal services that were never delivered.
The State Bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel announced today that it recently seized the illegal business operated by nonattorney John Pamintuan Alamarez Jr. of Artesia after evidence showed that he used his standing in the Filipino community to engage in long-standing unauthorized practice of law (UPL) as an employee of a licensed attorney.
The State Bar of California seized the illegal business of Irene Carlota Raygoza of Livermore after a couple filed a complaint that her mishandling of their immigration case left one of their sons at risk of having to leave the United States for up to 22 years, the Office of Chief Trial Counsel announced today.
The State Bar of California announced today that it seized the illegal business of Teresita Garcia of Upland on Friday, January 9, 2026, after receiving complaints—confirmed by Garcia’s former employee—that Garcia represented herself as an attorney when she has never been licensed to practice law in California.
The State Bar of California seized the business of Jose Baez of West Covina on Friday, December 19, 2025, for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (UPL), the Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) announced today.
The State Bar of California seized the offices of Salve Esperanza of Los Angeles for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (UPL). Esperanza, doing business as Prestige Network Resource Consulting, Inc. (PNRC, Inc.), falsely represented herself as an attorney and charged individuals—many of them Filipino immigrants—significant sums.
On Tuesday, the State Bar of California seized the unlawful practice of Maria Leanos, an El Cajon woman operating a law office without a valid license and misrepresenting herself as an attorney to clients on immigration and family law matters, the Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) announced today.
The State Bar of California seized the unauthorized El Monte-based immigration practice of Elena Orizabal, who has a history of offering immigration and other legal services that she has no license to provide, the Office of Chief Trial Counsel announced today.
The State Bar seized the Livermore practice of Robin Groth-Hill, aka Robin Hill, doing business as California Legal Services, announced Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona today.
The State Bar of California seized the Gardena practice of George Y. Takahashi, doing business as American Legal Counseling, Advanced Legal Services, and American Horitsusodan, announced George Cardona, the State Bar Chief Trial Counsel today. The Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) received an interim ruling from a Los Angeles Superior Court after Takahashi engaged in the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) by providing legal services and holding himself out as an attorney.
