A 65-year-old Orange County man, Jose Bernal, has been arrested for allegedly raping a woman who sought his help with her immigration status late last year. Bernal falsely claimed to be an attorney.
According to the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD), the victim met Bernal on November 12, 2024, at his office on East 17th Street in Santa Ana. Investigators say Bernal told the woman her immigration process would cost $14,000 but offered a “discount” if she entered into a personal relationship with him.
When the victim refused, Bernal allegedly assaulted her in his office. Police said he later offered her $400 and a reduced fee in exchange for her silence.
After police shared Bernal’s photo on social media while asking for the public’s help, employees at a McDonald’s in Tustin recognized him and alerted law enforcement. He was arrested on October 29, nearly a year after the reported assault.
Authorities have not confirmed whether Bernal is, or ever was, a licensed attorney. Records from the State Bar of California show a Jose Arthur Bernal who practiced law in Southern California and was disbarred in 2012, though it remains unclear if he is the same individual.
Experts note that cases like this often go unreported. A University of California, Santa Cruz study found that many victims of immigration fraud fear arrest or deportation. According to the Federal Trade Commission, between 400 and 700 such scams were reported annually from 2011 to 2014, though researchers believe the actual number is much higher.
