England and Wales: Fraudster immigration advisers who duped hundreds convicted

Swaye Binns, 39, from Dulwich founded Commonwealth Evaluators Ltd, a Croydon company offering ‘legal services’ to Commonwealth citizens, even though none of its staff were lawyers. It falsely claimed it was authorised by OISC and the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

OISC traced more than 260 clients who had been defrauded by Mr Binns, who himself was an illegal overstayer.

He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment while his twin brother Sheldon Binns was given a 10-month sentence suspended for 14 months and 150 hours’ unpaid work.

Manager Tara Robinson was given a 20-month sentence, suspended for two years and 280 hours of unpaid work while director Donald Hill was given a community service order of 100 hours.

The company will be struck off the Companies Register next month.

OISC Deputy Commissioner, Dr Ian Leigh, said: “The OISC is here to ensure that people seeking immigration advice are treated fairly by qualified people they can trust. In the largest case ever prosecuted by the OISC, Commonwealth Evaluators were exposed operating outside the law, preying upon vulnerable clients within their own community without regard for their protection or the consequences.

“I am delighted with the outcome of this case, and I hope it sends a clear message to anyone considering providing unregulated immigration advice and services.”

Sentencing, Her Honour Judge Smaller said: “Commonwealth Evaluators was a professional looking company with an impressive looking website. That is not a compliment. It outlines the sophisticated nature of the fraud.

“I have no doubt that clients of the company were under the impression that they were receiving the services of lawyers. Your company was not qualified from the outset and you knew that.”