Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Guilty Verdict in Human Trafficking, H-1B Visa Fraud Case

Guilty Verdict in Human Trafficking, H-1B Visa Fraud Case

"Kizzy Kalu, age 49, of Highlands Ranch, [Colorado,] was found guilty today of 89 counts of mail fraud, visa fraud, human trafficking and money laundering by a federal jury, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced. ... According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial, Kalu and Langerman were involved in a scheme making false representations to foreign nationals, to the State of Colorado, to the United States of America, and others for the purpose of obtaining money. Kalu and Langerman provided false information to the U.S. government to obtain the apparent lawful presence in the U.S. of foreign nationals. The foreign nationals then worked for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Those facilities paid Kalu’s company, Foreign Healthcare Professionals Group, for the hours the foreign nationals worked. Kalu retained approximately 40% of the money earned from the labor of the foreign nationals.
Among the false information provided to the U.S. government was that the foreign nationals would be employed by Adam University as nurse instructor supervisors (which were considered “specialty occupations” under U.S. immigration law and regulations) and earn more than the prevailing wage so as not to undermine the wages of U.S. workers. Adam University existed largely in name only and had no genuine need for nurse instructor supervisors. The foreign nationals were granted H-1B visas based on fraudulent representations permitting them to be employed as nurse instructors/supervisors by the largely nonexistent Adam University. Rather than working in specialty occupations, the foreign nationals worked as nurses earning below the prevailing wage.
Kalu also made false representations to the foreign nationals, including that they would have full time work available in Colorado. Upon their arrival, they learned that they would have to interview for positions and would not be employed by Adam University in a clinical setting. Some were unable to find full time work. Some learned that Kalu would not allow them to travel freely. Kalu threatened to cause their deportation if the foreign nationals did not provide him their labor and services. As Kalu’s scheme evolved, Kalu directed that the foreign nationals find work on their own and be paid directly by the healthcare facilities. However, Kalu demanded that the foreign nationals pay him between $800 to $1,200 a month or face deportation. Kalu threatened to notify the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and have their visas canceled if they did not pay him the money he demanded. Kalu used debt to help keep the foreign nationals with him. Many had gone deeply into debt to pay him for assistance in obtaining the visas. In addition, Kalu required the foreign nationals to sign employment contracts that provided they would owe Kalu $25,000 if they left his employment." 

1 comment:

  1. The same scheme is applied with some Chinese Visas and workers that come here on false visas, and end up in Chinese restaurants working only for tips, and are housed in horrid conditions, with threats of deportation if they speak out. It has happened in Arizona but was not prosecuted. ~ LC

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