BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The state has suspended the law license of a Brevard County attorney accused of taking off with clients' money and never telling them he closed his business.
Those clients said they paid thousands of dollars for work on immigration issues that was never completed.
The attorney was evicted from the space he used to lease.
The property owner said he stopped showing up and paying rent, so he was evicted in December.
Florida Bar records said Rolando Rodriguez used to have a law practice at the building.
The state has now suspended his license after accusations that he caused "great public harm by closing his office without notice, abandoning his clients' legal matters."
Between June 2017 and April 2018, six separate clients filed complaints against Rodriguez to the Florida Bar.
"I sent emails. I called him," said one of Rodriguez's former clients, who asked to not be identified.
Records said he went to Rodriguez for help getting a green card and a work permit. The former client said he paid Rodriguez $700 for services that were never completed.
When he tried to get his money back, he couldn't reach Rodriguez by phone, email or in person.
"You paid him, and you think he's going to come through for you, and you've got other people depending on you," the man said. "It's just wrong -- wrong way to do business."
Records said clients paid Rodriguez thousands for services that weren't fulfilled.
In one case, a client said Rodgriez lied about filing the proper paperwork related to his student visa. That former client said Rodriguez's actions put him "in danger of being deported."
"I've learned that now I have to do my homework," the former client said.
According to records, Rodriguez's paralegal said he owes her for about four weeks of pay.
No one answered the door at Rodriguez's possible address.
Cox Media Group
