A woman was sentenced to 15 years in state prison for defrauding dozens of people in an immigration

A 49-year-old Montebello a was sentenced today to 15 years in state prison for defrauding dozens of people in an immigration services scam over a three-year period, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Romina Aida Zadorian pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft, two counts of extortion and three counts of false government documents, all felonies, said Deputy District Attorney Leonard Torrealba of the Consumer Protection Division. She also admitted an allegation of taking property valued at more than $500,000 in the negotiated plea agreement.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Jose I. Sandoval immediately sentenced the defendant and ordered her to pay $667,396 in restitution to 91 victims.

Zadorian ran a fraudulent immigration services business at her home between Sept. 7, 2014, and Oct. 25, 2017, the prosecutor said. She collected payments from victims and falsely promised to expedite the processing of visas, resident alien cards and citizenship petitions.

Zadorian claimed that she worked for the government, had special government connections or was an attorney, the prosecutor said.

According to the criminal complaint, the defendant was convicted in 2009 of grand theft in Los Angeles County.

Case BA461524 was investigated by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation.