A recent Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision has underscored the legal profession’s zero-tolerance stance on exploiting vulnerable clients. Following a pattern of deceptive immigration practices that targeted non-English-speaking immigrants, the court imposed the ultimate sanction disbarment, sending a strong message on the importance of honesty, transparency, and client protection in legal practice.”
In the Matter of George Maroun, Jr., BD-2025-010, as recorded by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
In March 2022, a Massachusetts Superior Court found that George C. Maroun Jr. had run what was effectively an “asylum scam,” targeting Brazilian immigrants with deceptive and misleading practices. He was ordered to pay $241,800 comprising $160,000 in civil penalties and $81,800 in restitution to the affected clients and was permanently barred from representing new clients, filing immigration applications, or soliciting legal fees without explicit disclosure of risks and alternatives. In October 2022, Justice Elspeth B. Cypher imposed a two-year suspension from practicing law.
A subsequent disciplinary petition, based on the Superior Court’s factual findings, included 13 misconduct counts. The Board of Bar Overseers (BBO) allowed issue preclusion for the first six counts meaning these were accepted without further proof because they stemmed directly from the previous civil case but allowed him to contest the remaining counts under limited conditions.
The BBO’s hearing committee ultimately recommended disbarment. The Board formally approved this recommendation on January 13, 2025.
A formal notice was issued to Maroun on February 3, 2025, setting a hearing date for March 17, 2025. Maroun did not appear; only assistant bar counsel attended.
Finally, on July 16, 2025, Justice Gaziano of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued the judgment officially disbarring George Maroun Jr.
The disbarment sends a strong warning to lawyers that immigration fraud and deceptive practices will result in the most severe professional penalty loss of the license to practice law.
It underscores that prior civil sanctions and suspensions will not shield attorneys from later disbarment if the misconduct is serious enough.
This case demonstrates effective cooperation between the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (civil enforcement) and the Board of Bar Overseers (professional discipline).
Civil findings were used to expedite parts of the bar proceeding via issue preclusion, showing a model for handling complex attorney misconduct cases.
By disbarring Maroun, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court signaled that the integrity of the bar comes before an individual lawyer’s career.
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