What You Need to Know

• Lawyer Maria Thomas, 81, conspired with her son Steven, 52, to submit fraudulent asylum applications, the indictment said.
• Clients of their firm, Thomas and Thomas, were coached to memorize false claims about hazards they faced in their home countries.
• The firm allegedly repeated the same false description of adverse living conditions in multiple asylum applications.

A mother and son who practice immigration law are charged with conspiring to commit immigration fraud by advising clients to falsely claim they were persecuted in their home countries.

Maria Thomas, 81, and her son, Steven G. Thomas, 52, were charged with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud. Steven Thomas was additionally charged with filing a false visa application, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.

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