News Releases

State Bar Seizes Practice of a Los Angeles Nonattorney Exploiting Filipino Immigrants

The State Bar of California seized the offices of Salve Esperanza of Los Angeles for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (UPL). Esperanza, doing business as Prestige Network Resource Consulting, Inc. (PNRC, Inc.), falsely represented herself as an attorney and charged individuals—many of them Filipino immigrants—significant sums. Two complaining witnesses told State Bar investigators that Esperanza did not provide them any meaningful legal services and that she directed them to enroll in a Los Angeles university and take jobs with a specific employer with whom she allegedly collaborated.

Esperanza has never been licensed to practice law in California, nor was she authorized by any attorney to act on their behalf. Despite this, she misled clients by claiming to be responsible for securing immigration benefits, such as Green Cards and student visas. The Superior Court of Los Angeles County approved an interim order granting the State Bar’s seizure of Esperanza’s Olympic Boulevard office on November 21, 2024. The seizure took place the same day. The Superior Court issued a permanent order on December 2, 2024.

“This case is a stark reminder of the risks posed by unauthorized practitioners,” said George Cardona, Chief Trial Counsel. “Esperanza exploited individuals seeking lawful immigration status, taking their money and jeopardizing their futures. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the public from fraudulent actors such as this.”

In one case, a client from the Philippines who thought Esperanza was an attorney paid her more than $11,000 in November 2019 for her assistance to establish U.S. residency for him and his wife. Esperanza assured the client that she had assisted many Filipinos in securing their legal status and that she would handle all necessary filings with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Esperanza advised the couple to enroll in a specific Los Angeles university to secure a student visa and to work at a particular employer. The couple did both. However, after nine months of inaction, the man learned that his case had been denied because Esperanza failed to submit critical documents. The client stated that he believed Esperanza’s actions were with the intent to exploit him and his wife as employees. 

From 2019 to 2022, another client and his wife paid approximately $12,000 for Esperanza's immigration services, which included filing a Green Card application. She told the couple that they too should work for the same specific employer who would be their work sponsor for their Green Card application. Despite repeated assurances, Esperanza failed to file the required immigration documents, lied when she told the client that his employment authorization document arrived, and then when he arrived to pick it up, said it went to the wrong address. She also misled the couple on timelines, stating the employer wanted Esperanza to delay their Green Card applications for three years. Despite repeated inquiries, Esperanza provided false assurances, resulting in the denial of the couple’s immigration application.

A State Bar investigation revealed that Esperanza submitted numerous fraudulent filings to USCIS, listing her business address as the point of contact for clients, and not their home addresses. On at least two filings, she falsely claimed to be an attorney or accredited representative, a clear violation of immigration law.

In addition to her fraudulent activities, despite numerous letters from the State Bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel sent to her office and email addresses, Esperanza failed to respond or provide any evidence of her authorization to practice law.

During the seizure, the State Bar collected 30 boxes of client files and five computers. Clients or former clients of Salve Esperanza, or Prestige Network Resource Consulting, Inc. (PNRC, Inc.), seeking the return of their files may contact the State Bar’s dedicated phone number at 213-765-1581.  

The State Bar has a unit dedicated to investigating and addressing UPL throughout California. People who have been targeted by someone who is not licensed to practice law can file an unauthorized practice of law complaint with the State Bar. There is no cost, and U.S. citizenship is not required; the State Bar will not ask complainants about their citizenship or immigration status. The online complaint form is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

As a warning to the public, the names of those who have received unauthorized practice of law Cease and Desist notices are posted, by county, on the State Bar website. The State Bar also provides consumer information about avoiding legal fraud, including the unauthorized practice of law, and tips about avoiding immigration legal services fraud.

In the last fiscal year, OCTC opened more than 900 UPL cases and referred over 200 such cases to law enforcement.

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The State Bar of California's mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.