An eastern North Carolina woman whose law license had been suspended has pled guilty to visa fraud.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina G. Norman Acker, III said Roydera Hackworth, 63, of Wilmington was an attorney licensed to practice in North Carolina but was suspended by the state bar in 2012 and by the Board of Immigration Appeals from practicing in immigration matters in 2014.

Court documents show Hackworth primarily handled administrative cases for clients before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

In September 2019, DHS Disciplinary Counsel said it appeared that Hackworth violated her suspension and continued to practice, prepare, and submit paperwork for applicants for immigration benefits after she was suspended.

Investigators reviewed about 20 Alien Files and people that Hackworth “represented” were interviewed, and it was determined that Hackworth impersonated another licensed attorney, submitted various immigration-related documents which she signed under penalty of perjury representing that she was the other attorney and that she was not suspended and was authorized to practice law.

The DHS Disciplinary Counsel said: “Hackworth’s disregard of the Board of Immigration Appeals suspension order caused harm to her clients and to the immigration system. Her unscrupulous behavior required further action to protect the public and the immigration system. We are thankful the U.S. Attorney’s Office took the information we discovered and prosecuted Hackworth.”

The review revealed that between 6 and 24 clients were represented by Hackworth with no knowledge that she was submitting their immigration petitions and application under the name of the other attorney.

“Hackworth not only violated the oath of her profession and the laws of the US immigration system, but she also violated her client’s trust when she fraudulently represented them,” said Special Agent in Charge Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Martinez, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in North Carolina and South Carolina. “Preventing the exploitation of people and protecting the integrity of the US immigration system are hallmarks of HSI’s mission.”

Hackworth faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison when sentenced. It is anticipated sentencing will be during the Court’s term in January, 2022 in front of U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan.