BROOKLYN, NY – Zoya Shamilova, 38, of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, faces a 17-count indictment following her arraignment in Brooklyn Supreme Court for allegedly defrauding immigrants. Shamilova, a former paralegal at Shepelsky Law Group, is accused of stealing over $38,000 by falsely promising immigration assistance services.
The indictment details that from May 2022 to August, Shamilova claimed she could secure green cards and other immigration services for fees ranging from $4,500 to $16,250.
Victims from various countries, including Poland, Ukraine, Serbia, India, and Kazakhstan, were allegedly deceived after seeking consultations at Shepelsky Law Group. Shamilova reportedly took payments but failed to file any petitions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, often ignoring or making excuses to clients seeking updates.
Two undocumented individuals were allegedly threatened with immigration authorities after questioning Shamilova’s services. The scheme surfaced when a client contacted Marina Shepelsky, the law firm’s founder, leading to Shamilova’s dismissal and subsequent legal actions.
Charged with grand larceny, immigrant assistance services fraud, and other related crimes, Shamilova was released without bail and is due back in court on January 17, 2024.