Victims Need to Come Forward

Comment

The fallout from the Christine Owad case continues this week, with civil and criminal prosecutions being looked at by both the New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau.

Both offices need victims of the immigration scam to come forward to testify. While there is an understandable reluctance on the part of many to do so, there are many solid reasons why they should.

First there is the question of justice being served, second the possibility of getting the funds that they spent returned to them. Equally as important, by testifying the victims can ensure that no one else gets bilked as they did.

It is not hard to see why they are reluctant to step forward. After all, few people live in more terror of the law than undocumented of whatever nationality, yet there is a massive difference between aiding in a criminal inquiry and revealing yourself to immigration authorities.

The reality is that neither the New York State attorney general or the Manhattan district attorney has any interest in the person’s legal status. They merely wish to interview them as victims of a possible crime and to learn their testimony in order to ensure that the best possible case is presented.

There is no prospect at all that immigration authorities will become involved in this case. Anyone who comes forward to testify can rest assured of that.

Testifying would also mean that the person may be in a position to get the considerable sums of money handed over as part of the scheme returned to them.

Judging by the volume of responses we have received since our exclusive stories about Owad ran in the past two issues, there seems little doubt that the numbers of people conned in this scheme were very high indeed. Sums of up to $10,000 were apparently being handed out by some of the applicants who were desperate to get legal status here.

One can only imagine their disappointment and near despair when the sordid details of this case began to eke out. It is one thing to lose money, another to lose hope. In many cases both events have sadly happened.

Unfortunately, one can see how Christine Owad appeared to be plausible to those who met her, desperate as they were to legalize their status. Many Irish always believe there is a way around the toughest laws, that somehow, someone, somewhere can find a method of delivering when nothing looks obvious. Owad stepped right into that gap.

The sad facts are that this kind of case is not in the least bit unusual to the attorney general’s office or indeed, to law officials in general.

There are probably many non-Irish who also were clients of Christine Owad who also handed over considerable sums of money. For their sakes as well, it is important that the witnesses step forward. They will be performing a valuable duty if they do.

The number to call is 1-845-485-3913.

In the meantime, all Irish Americans can make a call to their congressional representative, urging support for immigration reform in the near future. Such legislation will hopefully prevent the Christine Owads of the world from preying on the fears of the undocumented in the future.