RZ Services

Agency: California State Bar
Description: On April 28, 2008, in a coordinated effort with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, The State Bar of California shut down operations of RZ Services, Inc., which had been providing immigration legal services without a law license.
A team of State Bar investigators entered the office, seized client files, served a court order on several banks to freeze the company’s accounts, and notified the phone company and the postal service to reroute phone calls and mail to the State Bar.
The company’s principal, Romina Aida Zadorian, was arrested by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies at her office. She is charged by the district attorney with 46 counts of grand theft, four of forgery and one of identity theft. According to a petition filed by the State Bar in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Zadorian is neither a licensed California attorney nor a duly bonded immigration consultant, yet she and RZ Services, Inc. provided legal services in connection with a variety of immigration applications, petitions and proceedings. Zadorian established a practice of collecting and then misappropriating filing fees intended for payment to the United States Department of Homeland Security Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The shutdown took place immediately after the State Bar obtained an interim order from the Superior Court assuming jurisdiction over Zadorian’s practice because of her unauthorized practice of law. Assumption of a law practice by a Superior Court under Business and Professions Code section 6126.3 is based upon the court finding that a person has engaged in the practice of law without being an active member of the State Bar or otherwise authorized to practice in California and that the interest of a client or interested person or entity will be prejudiced if the court does not assume jurisdiction.

Date of Action: 4/28/2008

Agency: Los Angeles City Attorney
Description: On April 29, 2008 the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office filed a felony complaint against this company’s principal, Romina Zadorian. The defendant is accused of bilking clients of hundreds of thousands of dollars through a large-scale immigration fraud ring. Ms. Zadorian faces 46 counts of grand theft of personal property, four counts of forgery and one count of identity theft.

According to the DA’s complaint, Ms. Zadorian ran an immigration consulting business, taking significant sums of money from respective clients. The charges allege the defendant pretended to be an attorney, and indicated that she could help immigrants with their immigration status by obtaining U.S. residency, citizenship, and work permits. Consumer complaints ultimately tipped off law enforcement authorities to the defendant’s criminal enterprise. Since 2003, prosecutors allege Zadorian has defrauded 46 victims with losses ranging from $6,000 to $20,000 each. The case is currently pending.

Date of Action: 4/29/2008