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.
A State Bar investigation began in 2024 after Minnella’s former client filed a complaint alleging that in 2011, he hired Minnella, after Minnella promised to secure him a work permit through an asylum application. The client, who reads and speaks Spanish, says he signed a retainer agreement written in English that he did not understand, paid $4,500 for the promised services, and waited years for an asylum application that was never filed. When he later asked for his money back, Minnella told him no refund was due—and instead claimed the client owed more money for other services. The client said he only learned that Minnella had never been licensed to practice law after consulting another attorney.
The State Bar’s investigation found that Minnella, doing business as J.L. Minnella and Associates, and Minnella Romano and Associates, is not and has never been a licensed attorney in California or any other U.S. jurisdiction. He also is not registered or bonded as an immigration consultant with the California Secretary of State—despite holding himself out publicly for more than 40 years as a provider of immigration, asylum, citizenship, and deportation defense services.
“The unauthorized practice of law puts vulnerable clients—including immigrants navigating high-stakes, life-altering legal proceedings—at serious risk,” State Bar Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona said. “Individuals who are not licensed attorneys are not qualified, and are not permitted, to provide the kind of legal advice and representation at issue here.”
State Bar investigators who visited Minnella’s Tustin office in January and March 2026 found a directory listing and exterior signage identifying the suite as the “Law Offices of Minnella, English & Wiksell,” despite Minnella’s acknowledgment that he is not licensed to practice law in the United States, does not work under the supervision of a licensed attorney, and is not a registered immigration consultant. Minnella told investigators he believed he was exempt from state registration requirements because he is a licensed attorney in Nicaragua and a graduate of a California law school—an exemption the State Bar’s filing states he was unable to substantiate.
Acting under the authority of the Orange County Superior Court, which approved the interim court order to execute the seizure in July, State Bar staff seized Minnella’s unauthorized law office and recovered 25 boxes of client files related to the unauthorized practice of law (UPL). Many of the boxes—each containing files for at least 10 clients—were retrieved from two large metal filing storage cabinets on-site. State Bar staff also recovered rubber stamps bearing Minnella’s business information, cleared business checks, and bank account statements associated with the practice.
Clients of John Minnella may retrieve files by calling the State Bar at 213-765-1593 (English and Spanish).
The State Bar strongly urges the public to ensure they are dealing with a licensed attorney by using the Check Attorney Profile feature on its website, which lets people verify an attorney’s license.
The State Bar has a unit dedicated to investigating and addressing UPL throughout California. People who have been targeted by someone who is not licensed to practice law can file an unauthorized practice of law complaint with the State Bar. There is no cost, and U.S. citizenship is not required; the State Bar will not ask complainants about their citizenship or immigration status. The online complaint form is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
As a warning to the public, the names of those who have received unauthorized practice of law Cease and Desist notices are posted, by county, on the State Bar website. The State Bar also provides consumer information about avoiding legal fraud, including the unauthorized practice of law, and tips about avoiding immigration legal services fraud.
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The State Bar of California’s mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.