Manchester Consultant Slapped with Suspended Jail for Dodgy Immigration Advice
Sebastian Valencia Jefferson, 47, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, 6 December 2024 for handing out unauthorised immigration advice and services. Jefferson ran Proxima Consulting Group Ltd and pleaded guilty to 11 counts of flouting the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
Sentenced but Not Behind Bars – Yet
The court handed down a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. But that’s not all. Jefferson must also:
- Complete 25 rehabilitation activity days
- Do 150 hours of unpaid work
- Pay a personal financial contribution
- Face a fine imposed on his company, Proxima Consulting Group Ltd
Dodgy Deals Targeted Vulnerable Iranians
Between February 2021 and March 2023, Jefferson brazenly offered unregulated immigration and nationality application help to the Iranian community in North West England. Despite having no official authorisation, he pushed these services via his firm’s website and social media.
Regulators Crack Down on Rogue Advisors
John Tuckett, Immigration Services Commissioner, warned, “This outcome sends a clear message that providing immigration advice and services without proper authorisation will not be tolerated. Unregulated advisers put vulnerable individuals at risk.”
The Investigation That Caught Him Out
The Home Office flagged suspicious applications, sparking a joint probe by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), the Home Office, and Greater Manchester Police.
This led to a thorough search of Proxima Consulting Group’s Manchester offices, sealing Jefferson’s fate.
