IMMIGRANT DECREE Leggett: County won’t detain without probable cause. A-3
The Gazette
NEWS: Montgomery arts council launches fundraising effort in Silver Spring. A-3
SILVER SPRING | TAKOMA PARK | WHEATON | BURTONSVILLE DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Man going to jail for fraudulent assistance
25 cents
School staff, students described as ‘mismatch’
All they are saying ...
‘Notario’ scheme in Silver Spring led to immigrants’ deportations n
BY
Council president: District needs ‘more aggressive’ approach on diversity n
DANIEL LEADERMAN STAFF WRITER
A Silver Spring man pleaded guilty on Oct. 1 to two charges relating to an immigration fraud scheme that left his victims facing deportation. Ramon O. Escarfullet, 61, was sentenced to six months in jail and ordered to pay restitution of $8,341.85 to four victims he defrauded between August 2012 and September 2013. He pleaded to one count of operating an immigration fraud scheme and one count of operating an unauthorized law practice scheme, both misdemeanors. Escarfullet, who ran a tax preparation service on University Boulevard in Silver Spring, advertised that he could provide immigration services despite the fact that he was not a lawyer, Montgomery County Assistant State’s Attorney Curtis L. Zeager said as he outlined the scheme to the court. Escarfullet’s flyers claimed that immigrants who had been living in the country illegally or with only a work permit were automatically eligible to become permanent residents if they had been living in the country for 10 years — a claim with no legal merit, Zeager said. Victims were told that the entire process would cost them $4,500. Escarfullet told them that if they were asked in immigration court who filled out their paperwork, they should lie and say it wasn’t him, Zeager said. Escarfullet told Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Joseph M. Quirk that he was “deeply sorry” for what he had done. Escarfullet’s attorney, Robinson Rowe, described him as an intelligent man with a good reputation in the community who began by trying to help people with their immigration issues before a “snowball effect” expanded his actions into the criminal scheme. Victims — who usually spoke little or no English — ended up applying for asylum, which would enable them to get a temporary work permit, but would then face deportation when their asylum requests were denied. All victims in the case were facing deportation procedures that they weren’t
See FRAUD, Page A-13
INDEX Automotive Calendar Classified Entertainment Opinion Sports
B-15 A-2 B-11 B-6 A-16 B-1
BY
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
— to remain open during the construction process. “If the co-op doesn’t succeed, it will be bad news,” Schultz said. He added that projects usually take longer to complete than developers say. Other council members said
At Highland Elementary School in Silver Spring, first-grade teacher Lacey Moradel is one of five Latino professional staff members in a school with about 400 Latino students out of a total enrollment of 545. For Moradel, there is a benefit to sharing a language and similar background with some of the children she teaches. “I was in their shoes,” she said. “I think that just automatically builds the connection with me and my students.” Roughly 9 percent of the school’s professional staff is Latino compared to about 75 percent of its students. A Sept. 30 county report found that Montgomery County Public Schools generally has a “demographic mismatch” between its professional staff members and its students. The report from the Office of Legislative Oversight said that white people are “over-represented” among the school system’s teachers, counselors and administrators, while Latinos, blacks and Asians are “underrepresented.” About 76 percent of the school system’s professional staff members were white in the 2012-13 school year, according to the report, while 33 percent of the student body was white. About 27 percent of students were Latino, about 21 percent were black and about 14 percent were Asian. Comparatively, about 5 percent of teachers were Latino, 12.5 percent were black, and 5 percent were Asian. The report authors also tried to include staff members’ language abilities but the school system does not track that information. The authors instead looked at requests schools made for language services. Montgomery County Council President Craig Rice said that, while the school system has taken “extraordinary steps,” there is a need for “a more aggressive, targeted approach” to increasing school staff diversity.
See DEVELOPERS, Page A-13
See MISMATCH, Page A-13
PHOTO FROM NORTHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Students, staff and others formed a human peace sign on the football field at Northwood High School as part of the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21.
N
orthwood High School in Silver Spring joined in the celebration of International Day of Peace on Sept. 21. Students and community members gathered for a one-mile fun run and a 5K race. Also, people formed a human peace sign on the football field and participated in an International Mo-
ment of Silence. Two days earlier, the school had activities focused on respect and responsibility, including discussion groups with visitors from the United States Institute of Peace and a Vietnam veteran, according to teacher Margaret Jessell.
— GAZETTE STAFF
Council refines questions for Takoma Junction developers Some want project in phases, question height
n
BY
KEVIN JAMES SHAY STAFF WRITER
Takoma Park council members on Monday refined questions for four potential developers of a
project to redevelop some cityowned land at Takoma Junction around the intersection of Carroll and Ethan Allen Avenues. Councilman Fred Schultz suggested that developers stage the project in phases to best allow the Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op — a natural foods grocery store owned by shoppers near the land
Silver Spring company offers help for special-needs clients Special Travelers accompanies families on vacation or local trips n
BY JESSICA
EGGERT
SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
Meghan Mulvenna is looking to improve the everyday lives of people with special needs. She is the founder of Special Travelers, a new service agency based in Silver Spring. Special Travelers is a limited liability company that offers assistance to people with special needs, either by traveling with them on vacation or teaching them skills for everyday life. The organization’s mission is to improve the quality of life support for those with mental disabilities.
Mulvenna’s home office is in Silver Spring, but there is no central place that clients visit. She has consultants throughout the country available to travel with families on vacation nationally and internationally. Mulvenna will match consultants with a family based on their needs. The consultant can meet the family either at their home or at the airport. “Families can contact us from anywhere and we will meet them anywhere,” Mulvenna said. The company started strictly to accompany families who have children with special needs on vacation. In April, in honor of Autism Awareness
See SPECIAL NEEDS, Page A-13
A&E
AFRAID OF THE DARK? Seventh annual spooky movie festival arrives in Silver Spring with new film by Eduardo Sanchez.
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Meghan Mulvenna runs a Silver Spring-based business that assists families with special needs children.
Volume 27, No. 41, Two sections, 36 Pages Copyright © 2014 The Gazette Please
RECYCLE
B-6
October 16, 2014 1932786
SPORTS: Einstein soccer player knows what it’s like to be a long shot. B-1