U.S. Immigration has assisted in an investigation that has led to a married couple from Ashburn, Virginia pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., visa fraud, and other related charges.
The indictment details how the couple and co-conspirators allegedly applied for more than 900 illegal immigration benefits under the H-1B visa program, via a staffing company they established. The scheme, which commenced in 2008, allegedly involved setting up a network of shell companies as independent businesses in need of foreign workers, who were then used to petition for fake U.S.-based occupations. In further violation of immigration regulations, the scheme required the beneficiaries to pay their own government filing fees. It is also alleged that petitions included forged signatures and supporting documentation.
The scheme netted the couple more than $20 million in proceeds, which they were forced to forfeit to the government.
Ironically, it appears that the couple both came to the U.S. as beneficiaries of the H-1B program and navigated the U.S. immigration system, resulting in one of them securing U.S. citizenship and the other U.S. permanent residency.