An Indian national has been arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud and for inducing foreign nationals to come to the United States using fraudulently obtained H-1B visas, said federal prosecutors on Friday.
48, Ashish Sawhney, who was arrested on Thursday allegedly used 4 corporations to arrange the improper submission of fake applications for H-1B specialty, occupation work visas, as they said.
Charged with 2 counts of conspiracy, 3 counts of inducing an unknown to come to and reside in the US for commercial advantage or private financial gain, and one count of attempted naturalisation fraud, Sawhney allegedly generated gross profits from 2011 to 2016 of approximately USD 21 million, the prosecutors said.
The prosecutors said that if convicted, Sawhney will face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A resident of Sterling, a Virginia suburb of Washington DC, he submitted or caused to be submitted H-1B visa application materials stating that the foreign workers named in the applications would fulfill a specific job, where in fact, no such job existed at the time of filing.
Sawhney also attempted to naturalise as a United State citizen by submitting an application containing false statements, they said.
