U.S. Department of Justice
Executive Office for Immigration Review

Office of the Director
5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2400
Falls Church, Virginia 22041

Contact: Public Affairs Office

(703)305-0289, Fax: (703) 605-0365

Internet: www.usdoj.gov/eoir

EOIR Announces Disciplinary Actions Against 13 Immigration Practitioners

Eight Attorneys Receive Final Orders of Discipline; Five Others, Immediate Suspensions

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has taken disciplinary action against 13 attorneys after charging them with violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Immigration Practitioners provided in Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations (8 CFR Parts 3 and 292). The attorneys' rule violations arose out of sanctions imposed by other jurisdictions.

Disciplinary proceedings began in each case with a Petition for Immediate Suspension and Notice of Intent to Discipline filed with the Board of Immigration Appeals (the Board) by EOIR's Office of the General Counsel. The Board then ordered each attorney's immediate suspension from practice before the Immigration Courts, the Board, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service and required the attorney to respond to the alleged violations.

The Board issued Final Orders of Discipline against the eight attorneys named below after each failed to respond as required to the Notice of Intent to Discipline. The failure to respond in a timely manner to allegations in a Notice of Intent to Discipline constitutes admission of the alleged rule violations.

David L. Brehmer, suspended indefinitely by the Supreme Court of Minnesota for a minimum of 1 year; was suspended indefinitely by final order of the Board on March 19, 2001, for a minimum of 1 year beginning February 2, 2001, the date of the Board's initial order of immediate suspension.

Andrew Robert Sebok, suspended by the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board for 9 months, was suspended by final order of the Board on March 19, 2001, for 9 months beginning on February 2, 2001, the date of the Board's initial order of immediate suspension.

Fuad B. Nasrallah, suspended by the Supreme Court of Ohio on an interim basis pending the final disposition of disciplinary proceedings against him, was suspended indefinitely by final order of the Board on March 22, 2001. The period of his suspension began on January 25, 2001, the date of the Board's initial order of immediate suspension.

Valerie L. Yaeger, suspended by the State of Michigan Attorney Discipline Board for 180 days, was suspended by final order of the Board on April 9, 2001, for 180 days beginning on March 8, 2001, the date of the Board's initial order of immediate suspension.

Mackson P. McDowall, suspended by the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department, for 2 years, was suspended by final order of the Board on April 11, 2001, for 2 years beginning on March 8, 2001, the date of the Board's initial order of immediate suspension.

William P. Kaszynski, disbarred by the Supreme Court of Minnesota, was expelled by final order of the Board on April 13, 2001.

Alake Johnson-Ford, disbarred by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, was suspended by final order of the Board on May 7, 2001, for 5 years beginning on September 15, 2000, the date of the Board's initial order of immediate suspension.

Arthur G. Williamson, disbarred by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, was expelled by final order of the Board on May 7, 2001.

Immediate Suspensions

On May 7, the Board ordered immediate suspensions of the following attorneys for the reasons stated:

Deloris A. Brown, suspended by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals pending final disposition of disciplinary proceedings against her;

Morris Brown Kemper, suspended by the State Bar of California for 1 year;

Robert L. Koven, suspended indefinitely by the Court of Appeals of Maryland, with an opportunity to seek readmission after 2 years;

Raymond J. Sanders, suspended by the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit for 1 year; and

Gary M. Spraker, suspended by the Supreme Court of Indiana for 2 years.

In each of the matters cited above, the Board directed the attorney "to promptly notify, in writing, any clients with cases currently pending before the Board, the Immigration Courts, or the Service" that he or she may no longer represent clients before these tribunals.

The amended rules of professional conduct, published in the Federal Register on June 27, 2000, and effective on July 27, 2000, include provisions specifying grounds for disciplinary action, requirements for receiving and investigating complaints, and procedures for conducting hearings. The rules also authorize the Board to immediately suspend a practitioner who has been subject to disbarment, suspension, or resignation with an admission of misconduct as imposed by a State or Federal court, pending a summary proceeding and final sanction.

EOIR announces these disciplinary actions to inform the public about practitioners who are not authorized to represent any matter before an immigration tribunal. EOIR also posts a list of suspended and expelled practitioners on its Web site at www.usdoj.gov/eoir.

- EOIR -