Chattanooga immigration advocates say a 47-year-old businesswoman has been defrauding local undocumented people by taking their money, pretending to work with attorneys, forging important court documents and hurting their overall chances of obtaining citizenship.
And prosecutors have taken notice.
After three indictments earlier this summer, Norma Ferrer faces eight felonies in Hamilton County Criminal Court related to her charges of forgery, theft of property, criminal simulation and impersonation of a licensed professional.
Ferrer, who runs a company that fills out forms for undocumented immigrants and is affiliated with a Caribbean restaurant-club on Dodds Avenue, told Judge Barry Steelman Friday she needed more time to hire an attorney. She hasn’t entered a plea yet and could not be reached for comment at listed phone numbers for Mango’s Island Bar and Grill and Ferrer’s Multiservices. Both businesses on Friday were closed, locked and appeared empty.
According to her indictment and three immigration attorneys, Ferrer has preyed on members of the local undocumented population for at least a year.