Former Aide Charged with Bilking Colombians

HOUSTON - Authorities have arrested a 44-year-old former Texas legal aide for allegedly bilking more than $100,000 from 25 Colombian immigrants and their relatives.

Colombia native Maria Jose Hurtado was scheduled for a court appearance Wednesday.

Hurtado was arrested Monday by Harris County Sheriff's officers in Katy after allegedly posing as an employee of the Colombian consulate in Houston. She was charged with theft for offering everything from green cards to citizenship to immigrants but never providing the services, a Houston newspaper reported.

"There's really no telling how far back this goes," Lt. Jeff Stauber of the Sheriff's Office said. "It's pretty egregious."

Hurtado worked as a contractor for the consulate for 13 years but was fired in 2008 after a separate accusation of charging Colombians fees for services at the office.

She was among consular staff allowed to meet with Colombian detainees at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. But Hurtado continued meeting with detained Colombians even after she was fired from the consulate and would tell them she could help with their immigration issues, Stauber said.

ICE is looking into Hurtado's case, said agency spokesman Greg Palmore.

Online records for the Harris County Jail where Hurtado is being held on a $120,000 bond. Attorney information was not available.