Dominican man representing US Baptists has no law license

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — A Dominican man who has served as legal adviser and spokesman for 10 Americans detained in Haiti on child- kidnapping charges has no license to practice law in his native country, officials said Friday.

Jorge Puello, who has been a high-profile advocate for the American Baptists as they navigate the Haitian justice system, is in apparent violation of Dominican law for failing to register with the local bar association or obtain a license, said Jose Parra, vice president of the Dominican Lawyers Association.

Parra said his organization still was investigating the situation and might file a complaint with the Justice Department, which could pursue criminal charges.

Puello declined to comment in a brief telephone interview, saying he would be busy in court representing a U.S. firm seeking to establish a business in the Dominican Republic. He could not be located in court and did not return later phone calls.

The Web site for Puello Consulting says it has offered “full legal services” for businesses in the Dominican Republic and elsewhere since 2005. The site was taken down Friday for undisclosed reasons.

The New York Times reported late Thursday that authorities in El Salvador are investigating whether Puello is a man suspected of leading a trafficking ring in that country involving Central American and Caribbean women and girls.

Puello denied any connection to trafficking in an interview with the newspaper and said he had never been to El Salvador.

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