By SARAH GARLAND

The New York Times
May 1, 2006 Monday
Voice of Bronx Immigrant Group Is Accused of Defrauding Clients
BYLINE: By MANNY FERNANDEZ and SARAH GARLAND
SECTION: Section B; Column 1; Metropolitan Desk; Pg. 1

Voice of Bronx Immigrant Group Accused of FraudFor years, the Garifuna people came to Southern Boulevard to mourn their past. Then they started going there for another reason, not out of grief but pride. They came to see Maria Elena Maximo.
Ms. Maximo was arrested in connection with a scheme to charge illegal immigrants $500 to $2,500 each to apply for work permits and green cards for which they were not eligible. State and federal prosecutors said she submitted more than 1,300 fraudulent applications in 2004 and 2005, receiving an estimated $1 million from her customers.