Olivet University Plans to Reactivate ESL Attendees Counter-Suit to reveal the Truth and Expose Orchestrators

Olivet University, the California-based Christian institution once accused of labor-trafficking by a small group of former ESL attendees, is preparing to resume its counter-suit after a court-ordered stay is lifted, the University Herald has learned. The move follows years of legal and media scrutiny that federal authorities have since concluded with no findings of wrongdoing. The original civil case, first filed in 2023 and later dismissed, is now poised to take a new turn as Olivet seeks to hold accountable those it says defrauded the university and orchestrated false claims. Although the case was stayed at the plaintiffs' own request, Olivet now views the pause as a turning point — an opportunity to uncover who was truly behind the false allegations and to reveal the full extent of the scheme.

Background: A Case Put on Hold

According to Olivet University records, Rolando Broccko, Dawin Galan, Nogleidys Broccko (née Acosta), and Minerva Ruiz enrolled in the university's English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) program at the Riverside campus between January and April 2017. In their admission essays, each expressed a desire to be trained as a missionary and Christian leader. Initially, they were granted scholarships covering tuition, later expanded to include room and board after they cited financial hardship.

Despite these opportunities, school officials say all four left during the summer of 2017. Although they informed the school of their intention to return in the fall, they never did. Instead, officials say they transferred to another institution in New York, enrolling in a three-year ESL program. Olivet formally processed their transfer-out agreements and wished them well.

More than five years later, in September 2023, the same individuals filed a civil complaint against the university.

Alleged Blackmailing and T-Visa Fraud

Following the 2023 filing, the plaintiffs' attorney sent repeated settlement demands to the university, at times requesting as much as $300,000 per person. According to Olivet, the university rejected all such requests outright and instead filed a counter-suit, accusing the plaintiffs of fraud and abuse of process.

Discovery in the case revealed that plaintiffs were seeking T-visas, a special immigration status reserved for verified victims of human trafficking. With both Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) having now cleared Olivet of any charges, it appears the plaintiffs attempted to fraudulently obtain immigration benefits by misrepresenting their circumstances.

Plaintiff and Main Plaintiff's Wife Drops Out

According a recent article, a few months after the original complaint was filed, one of the Plaintiffs, Nogleides, decided to withdraw from the case because her mother, who is a lawyer, advised that the Plaintiff's actions were "repaying goodness with malice" (original in Spanish is "quien mucho ayuda, mal le paga"). According to her parents, someone told the Plaintiff that they would get hundreds of thousands of dollars and could live in the United States comfortably.

Nogleides is married to Mr. Rolando Brocko, who is the main person behind the Complaint.

Singh and the Fake 911 Call

Following the dismissal of the initial complaint, the plaintiffs filed an amended version that replaced Nogleidys with Rebecca Singh, a former student from India. Singh had previously been expelled from Olivet for misconduct and poor academic performance. Records indicate repeated issues, including theft from dormitories, class and chapel absences, and falsifying a medical excuse to avoid finals.

After being expelled, Singh made a false 911 call, claiming she was being held against her will. Police records show her claim was unfounded: the campus was not enclosed, and at the time she was being escorted by a staff member to the airport.

Her allegations of "imprisonment" stand in direct contradiction to the documented circumstances of her departure.

The Counter-Suit and Allegations of Fraud

On October 26, 2023, Olivet University filed a counter-suit in the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, against Roland Broccko, Dawin Liranzo Galan, and Minerva Ruiz. In its cross-complaint, the university accuses the former ESL attendees of fraud and deceit, alleging that they misrepresented their intentions when applying to the school.

According to the filing, each had professed a desire to train for Christian ministry and mission work as a condition of admission and scholarship consideration, but allegedly had no genuine intent to pursue those goals. Instead, Olivet claims, the plaintiffs' true purpose was to gain illicit entry and residency in the United States under student visas, using the university as a conduit.

The university further alleges that the individuals obtained full scholarships covering tuition, room, and board under false pretenses, then abandoned their studies after only one or two quarters. Olivet is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the harm caused by these former students' actions.

Olivet's filings emphasize that the university never required labor or services as a condition of scholarships — directly contradicting the plaintiffs' central claims of "forced work" or "labor trafficking." The university maintains that such allegations were a fabrication designed to exploit media coverage and mislead investigators.

Looking Ahead

The court stay is expected to be lifted imminently once the underlying procedural motions are resolved, allowing Olivet's counter-suit to proceed. "Olivet's position is clear," the university said in a statement. "We will not be silent when our integrity and mission are misrepresented. Once the stay is lifted, we intend to pursue the truth in court and ensure accountability for those who have sought to deceive and defame us."

Jonathan Park, President of Olivet University, further commented: "The orchestrators of this scheme have turned former ESL attendees into unwilling mouthpieces. But the more they speak on behalf of that falsehood, the nearer we come to seeing who's truly pulling the strings."

Park's comments appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to the alleged involvement of Newsweek CEO Dev Pragad and Newsweek subsidiary Adprime's finance manager Sophie Yu in the T Visa scheme.