DOJ Announces Charges Against PA Man for Immigration Fraud – The National Law Review
The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) recently announced federal charges against a Pennsylvania man for his involvement in a scheme to defraud the U.S. government by submitting materially false U Visa applications for noncitizens. The charges underscore the severity of the penalties associated with immigration fraud.
According to a press release from the DOJ, the fraudulent activity occurred in 2017 and 2018, when the Philadelphia man falsely represented that he was an immigration attorney. While operating the African Hispanic Immigration Organization in Pennsauken, New Jersey, the man held himself out to be a “licensed and qualified” immigration attorney. In reality, he was not licensed to practice law in either Pennsylvania or New Jersey.
After acquiring clients, the man prepared and submitted false and fraudulent U Visa application documents to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) on behalf of noncitizen clients, from whom he collected legal fees.
The U Visa program, created with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act in October of 2000, provides that noncitizen victims of certain qualifying crimes that occur in the United States may be eligible to obtain a visa to permit their residence in the United States. The legislation was intended to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking of noncitizens, and other crimes, while also protecting victims of crimes who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse due to the crime and are willing to help law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity.
The Philadelphia man focused his fraudulent activity on filing materially false application documents under the U Visa program. Specifically, the documents he prepared included fraudulent claims, including false allegations the noncitizens were victims of qualifying crimes, false names, false signatures, and other false means of identification. None of the individuals he represented ever received a U Visa.
Following an investigation into the scheme, the U.S. Attorney filed charged the man with six counts of submitting false and fraudulent immigration documents and six counts of aggravated identify theft.
Immigration documents fraud is a serious offense, codified at Section 1546, Title 18 of the United States Code, and carries up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.00. Aggravated identity theft, codified at Section 1028A of title 18 of the United States Code, carries up to two years of imprisonment, which must be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed, as well as a maximum fine of $250,000.
The defendant appeared in federal court in late February. As with any criminal case, the charges are only allegations, and have not yet been proven in court. The investigation was headed by special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special-Agent-in-Charge Jason J. Molina in Newark, New Jersey.
About this Author
Raymond G. Lahoud, Chair of the firm’s Immigration Law Practice, focuses exclusively on the area of immigration law and deportation defense for individuals, families, small to large domestic and multinational businesses and corporations, employers, international employees, investors, students, professors, researchers, skilled professionals, athletes, and entertainers, in every type of immigration or deportation defense matter—whether domestic or foreign. While Ray’s immigration practice is global in reach, with service to individuals and organizations across the United States and beyond,…
You are responsible for reading, understanding and agreeing to the National Law Review’s (NLR’s) and the National Law Forum LLC’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before using the National Law Review website. The National Law Review is a free to use, no-log in database of legal and business articles. The content and links on www.NatLawReview.com are intended for general information purposes only. Any legal analysis, legislative updates or other content and links should not be construed as legal or professional advice or a substitute for such advice. No attorney-client or confidential relationship is formed by the transmission of information between you and the National Law Review website or any of the law firms, attorneys or other professionals or organizations who include content on the National Law Review website. If you require legal or professional advice, kindly contact an attorney or other suitable professional advisor.
Some states have laws and ethical rules regarding solicitation and advertisement practices by attorneys and/or other professionals. The National Law Review is not a law firm nor is www.NatLawReview.com intended to be a referral service for attorneys and/or other professionals. The NLR does not wish, nor does it intend, to solicit the business of anyone or to refer anyone to an attorney or other professional. NLR does not answer legal questions nor will we refer you to an attorney or other professional if you request such information from us.
Under certain state laws the following statements may be required on this website and we have included them in order to be in full compliance with these rules. The choice of a lawyer or other professional is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Attorney Advertising Notice: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Statement in compliance with Texas Rules of Professional Conduct. Unless otherwise noted, attorneys are not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, nor can NLR attest to the accuracy of any notation of Legal Specialization or other Professional Credentials.
The National Law Review – National Law Forum LLC 3 Grant Square #141 Hinsdale, IL 60521 Telephone (708) 357-3317 or toll free (877) 357-3317. If you would ike to contact us via email please click here.