DA: Immigration law firm secretary stole $25K from clients

A secretary has been charged with allegedly stealing over $25,000 from clients of a North Philadelphia law firm specializing in immigration-related services.

Jasmine Torres, 39, of Philadelphia, was arrested Wednesday by investigators with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office's Economic Crime Unit.

Prosecutors said Torres was employed at a law firm on the 700 block of Allegheny Avenue. She is accused of failing to pass along to the firm cash and money order payments from at least 23 clients.

Torres allegedly pocketed the funds and never provided the clients with the legal services they attempted to purchase.

Torres was arraigned on multiple counts of theft and forgery, and her bail was set at $120,000. She is next due in court May 16 for a status hearing.

The case remains under investigation, and authorities believe there may be more victims. Anyone who may have been victimized by Torres is asked to contact Detective Daphne Smith of East Detectives at 215-686-3243, or Detective Patricia Wong, of the DA's Economic Crime Unit, at 215-686-8732.