A Los Angeles paralegal faces sentencing Monday for participating in a scheme to violate U.S. immigration laws by preparing and filing bogus documents that sought permanent residency and citizenship for members of a Philippines-based church.
Maria De Leon, 77, a resident of the Koreatown neighborhood and the owner of a legal document service, pleaded guilty in 2022 to a single federal conspiracy charge, which carries a sentence of up to five years behind bars.
The defendant admitted her part in the scheme with administrators of the church, which is known as the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, according to her plea agreement, which says De Leon is cooperating in the government’s case…