LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Going through a divorce has proved extremely stressful and painful for many people in Nevada.
But imagine finding out the attorney who worked your case and finalized divorce proceedings for you was not an actual attorney, and you’re still married. Attorney Ofelia Markarian of the Markarian Law Group held a news conference where she talked about a woman that Las Vegas police arrested for posing as an attorney.
Markarian says she was that suspect’s target of impersonation.
“There are victims of her who she allegedly divorced, but these people are not divorced. These documents are fake,” Markarian said. “So, there’s victims who have believed that they’ve been divorced for a year when in reality they’re still married. So, the ramifications of that, if either one of those parties wants to purchase a new home believing that they are divorced when they really are not, and they make a purchase or acquire a new asset, that is community property. These parties are still married.”
Markarian says the couple would have to start a new divorce case.
Metro police say detectives from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested 36-year-old Cenia Poulsen for posing as an attorney in the state of Nevada.
According to a police report, Poulsen has portrayed herself as an attorney since January 2022 and she accepted money to “file documents” through the court systems. Police said these services included divorces, legal reviews/insights, name changes and adoptions, defrauding multiple victims. Detectives confirmed that Poulsen has never been an attorney with the Nevada State Bar.
“I was shocked. I have many friends in the legal field who have been practicing for years who have never seen anything like this before. And we’re hoping that this is the first and last time something like this ever happens,” said Markarian.
Markarian says Poulsen worked at other law firms but was never employed by her firm, is not affiliated with her firm at all, and she doesn’t know why Poulsen targeted her.
Markarian says because of attorney-client privilege, she can’t say a lot, but says she helped some clients redo some of their paperwork.
“I did not charge the clients. She had already charged them and received money initially. So, I thought it would only be right that I would fix this pro bono for these clients so that they can finally have a resolution for their case, a real one,” said Markarian.
Poulsen is facing multiple felony charges including forgery, theft, and preparing or delivering simulated legal documents. Detectives learned she also worked under the name of Cenia Del Pozo and Cenia Carillo.
People can check to see if an attorney is listed with the State Bar of Nevada at NVBAR.org.
Police say if you have any information regarding this case, or had legal work processed by Poulsen, please reach out to LVMPD Detectives at 702-828-3251. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 702-385-5555, or on the internet at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
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