Prosecutors: NYC man used UN as a set and boasted of bogus job in immigration scam

DA: NYC man claimed UN job in immigration scam

NEW YORK — Prosecutors say a former United Nations volunteer held himself out as a staffer to con immigrants out of thousands of dollars and even met with victims in the U.N.’s New York City building lobby to enhance his scam.

Marc Payen (PAY’-ehn) is being held on $75,000 bail after pleading not guilty Monday in Manhattan to charges including grand larceny. The 28-year-old already is on probation after last year admitting a Queens immigration scheme.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office says the Haitian-born Payen falsely claimed to be a U.N. lawyer or immigration service staffer. It says he took more than $12,000 for work he never did to help six victims get green cards or other forms of legal residency.

U.N. representatives haven’t responded to an e-mail message seeking comment.