The husband and wife duo helped their clients in getting H-1B visas approved.
A Rochester-based Indian American couple has been arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering after their business that created fake immigration documents for ineligible Indian H-1B applicants was busted.
According to the Justice Department, Indian American couple Anjaneyulu Katam and Mahalakshmi Cheruvu were involved in a business that created fake immigration documents to people outside of the US to enter the country.
Both have been charged with visa fraud, money laundering, false statements, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. If found guilty both will get a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.
According to Assistant US Attorney Kyle Rossi, who is in charge of the case, the couple ran their illegal business between 2011 to 2016 for a period of five years.
They were heavily concentrating on creating fake immigration documents for Indian nationals to enter the US and work in the country.
The husband and wife duo helped their clients in getting H-1B visas approved by falsifying immigration documents so that they can work in US tech industries.
The H-1B visa program allows skilled foreign workers to temporarily work in the US in specialty occupations.
According to the Justice Department, the Indian American couple made fake visa applications, work experience documents, and work contracts that they submitted to the US Department of Labor, Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to get the visa applications of their Indian clients approved.
The department said their illegal business resulted in not only monetary loss to the US but also caused illegal entry and unlawful employment of several ineligible Indian nationals in the US through their unscrupulously approved H-1B visa.
The defendants made an initial appearance before US Magistrate Judge Jonathan Feldman and were released on conditions.