An unlicensed immigration advisor has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison after providing advice to vulnerable immigrants over a decade — including after charges were filed.
Romney Lavea provided advice to vulnerable immigrants in the Samoan community and continued to do so even after being warned by the Immigration Advisers Authority in July 2011, and after charges were filed in May 2022, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said today in a media release.
He had previously been sentenced to two years in prison for immigration-related offending.
Earlier this year, a jury found Lavea guilty of six counts of giving immigration advice without a licence or being exempt, and four counts of receiving a fee or reward under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 (the Act).
Seven of his victims gave evidence at his trial, including a client he advised to get married to regularise her partner’s immigration status. The woman’s husband left her once the visa was granted soon after the marriage.
Another victim, who was staying in the country unlawfully, was advised to remain in New Zealand despite contradictory advice from Immigration New Zealand.
He also endorsed the idea of one of the applicants adopting out his children in New Zealand to increase their chances of getting a visa.
“Mr Lavea benefitted financially by exploiting vulnerable migrants, mishandling their applications, providing wrong advice at times, and creating false email accounts to conceal his identity and involvement,” MBIE’s investigations manager for occupational regulation Jyoti Issar said.
“While Mr Lavea was completely aware that he was required to be licensed to provide immigration advice, he took no steps to comply with the Act by applying for a licence.”
Lavea was yesterday sentenced in the Auckland District Court to two years and nine months in prison.
He has also been ordered to pay three of his victims a total of $1600 in reparation.
Issar said the sentence “sends a message to people that this type of wilful and deliberate offending is not only unacceptable, but unlawful and will not be tolerated”.
“In cases like these, we will not hesitate to press criminal charges.”