Phony immigration business agrees to shut down operations, pay fines in settlement with Attorney General Phil Weiser

Phony immigration business agrees to shut down operations, pay fines in settlement with Attorney General Phil Weiser

Sept. 26, 2025 (DENVER) - Attorney General Phil Weiser announced today that a woman who ran fraudulent Weld County-based businesses that illegally advertised and performed unlicensed legal services for clients navigating the U.S. immigration system will shut down operations under a settlement agreement.

"At a time when many immigrants and their families live in fear of deportation, the defendant in this case charged outrageous fees for poor quality work she was neither qualified nor licensed to perform," said Attorney General Phil Weiser. "Those looking for help navigating the immigration system should be able to turn to qualified professionals. As the action in this case makes plain, only an immigration attorney or a representative working for an authorized organization can give legal advice. Those who mislead immigrants will be held accountable."

Since at least 2022, Shineth Gonzales operated two businesses that offered immigration services to Colorado clients. Despite claiming that she possessed a law degree from Harvard University and had expertise in legal services, offering legal advice, and preparing immigration documents for people navigating the U.S. immigration system, Gonzales in fact had no law degree and was neither licensed nor qualified to provide such services.

The two organizations run by Ms. Gonzales, US Immigration Services and Colorado Global Schools, told consumers there was an attorney and legal consultant on staff named Ms. Shequioa Daniels. This person did not exist.

Gonzales also charged clients very high fees for these services compared to what legitimate attorneys typically charge. Gonzales charged some clients up to $17,000 for certain document preparation, an amount far greater than what most licensed attorneys charge. Despite these high fees, multiple people who hired Gonzales ended up having to hire immigration attorneys to fix her errors.

In addition to falsely claiming to hold a law degree, Gonzales referred to herself as "Dr. Gonzales," though she never received any doctoral credentials from a properly accredited college or university. She claimed she had received an honorary doctorate from an institution in Haiti.

Under the terms of the settlement, Gonzales will be barred from performing, advertising, or operating any business offering immigration services, and from using the doctoral title. She will also pay a fine of $12,000, which will increase to $50,000 if she fails to comply with the terms of the settlement.

Immigration scams, especially ones involving "notarios," are on the rise in Colorado and across the country. In Latin America, notaries public (or notarios in Spanish), have greater legal authority than in the United States.

Colorado residents can learn more about how to spot immigration scams, how to access resources to help navigate the legal system, and file complaints about immigration scams or any other scams and fraud at StopFraudColorado.gov and in Spanish at NoMasFraudeColorado.gov.

Read the settlement announced today (PDF).

Read about the state's investigation and the allegations against Gonzales (PDF).

###

Media Contact: Elliot Goldbaum Community Education and Communications Manager (720) 508-6769 office [email protected]