Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit against Christian Palacios, Juan Diego Guevara Sanchez, and their companies, including Nueva Vision Latinoamerica LLC. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants defrauded thousands of customers in Minnesota and other states by falsely advertising non-immigrant tourist visa services.
According to the complaint, the businesses promised to obtain tourist visas for customers’ family members living abroad. Customers paid several hundred to several thousand dollars each for what was called a “family reunification” program. However, the Attorney General’s Office claims that in many cases, visa applications were never submitted as promised. The suit also states that defendants told customers they had made consular appointments which were never actually scheduled.
As part of their business practices, it is alleged that customers’ family members were required to send original passports to Nueva Vision. In some cases, these passports were not returned unless additional payments were made. The complaint describes this as a form of extortion.
The lawsuit further claims that Ms. Palacios presented herself as an attorney despite not being licensed to practice law in Minnesota or any other state. Evidence cited includes firsthand accounts from affected consumers.
Attorney General Ellison also alleges that proceeds from these activities funded personal luxury purchases such as expensive cars and designer items. The complaint mentions loans taken from company funds for vehicles like a BMW and Bentley, as well as social media posts showing luxury handbags and cosmetic surgery.
Some victims reportedly suffered significant consequences while waiting for visa applications to be processed; some lost family members during the delay or now fear applying for visas due to concerns about fraud.
“No one should be taken advantage of because they miss their family,” Attorney General Ellison said. “But that’s what defendants did. They aggressively targeted people who had not seen their parents or siblings for years, offering to obtain tourist visas for people by submitting visa applications on their family members’ behalf. I filed this lawsuit so no one else is harmed or defrauded into giving up their savings, because someone saw people’s love of their families as a way to scam hard-working Minnesotans.”
The Attorney General asserts violations of several state laws including the Minnesota Consumer Fraud Act and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, among others related to false advertising and unauthorized legal practice. The office seeks restitution for consumers along with penalties and an injunction against further violations.
Consumers who believe they have been affected are encouraged by the Attorney General’s Office to file complaints through an online form available in both English and Spanish or contact the office by phone.
