NRI
arrested in $5.7 million visa fraud
NEWARK, N.J, January 14, 2006
Miss Roopa Sharma
ICE AGENTS SEIZE $5.7 MILLION & LUXURY VEHICLES
IN MASSIVE BENEFITS FRAUD INVESTIGATION
Narendra Mandalapa is in federal custody and agents
from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
have seized $5,724,592 in assets from the suspects
bank and brokerage accounts in a massive immigration
benefits fraud investigation. Mandalapa filed nearly
1,000 possibly fraudulent labor-based petitions on
behalf of Indian and Pakistani nationals through two
New Jersey based shell companies.
NRI, Narendra Mandalapa, living in New Jersey is
in federal custody and agents from U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have seized $5,724,592
in assets from the suspect's bank and brokerage accounts
in a massive immigration benefits fraud investigation.
Narendra Mandalapa has been charged with Fraud and
Misuse of Visas, violations of 18 USC Section 1546.
The charges were filed in United States District Court
in Newark. Mandalapa is currently in the custody of
the United States Marshals Service.
During the investigation, ICE agents discovered that
Mandalapa filed nearly 1,000 possibly fraudulent labor-based
petitions on behalf of Indian and Pakistani nationals
seeking to enter or remain in the United States. The
petitions were for skilled computer workers. Both
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and
ICE continue to investigate those aliens who received
the fraudulent immigration benefits. Investigators
are also working to determine how many people fraudulently
entered the country and how many already in the United
States may have received fraudulent labor benefits.
This investigation is a product of a joint anti-fraud
initiative undertaken by ICE, USCIS and the Department
of Labor's Office of the Inspector General. The investigation
began when a special fraud detection unit of USCIS
uncovered a pattern of fraud in petitions for immigration
benefits submitted by Mandalapa through one of his
companies. The USCIS Fraud Detection Unit in St. Albans,
Vermont, referred their analysis to the ICE Benefit
Fraud Unit (IBFU), also based in Vermont. The IBFU
then coordinated with ICE Special Agent in Charge
in Newark to begin the field investigation that resulted
in the arrest and asset seizure.
Investigators uncovered two shell companies in New
Jersey owned by Mandalapa were created solely for
the purpose of filing fraudulent labor-based petitions
for foreign workers. During the investigation agents
armed with search warrants seized computers and documents
from the corporate address of Cybersoftec, Inc.
Agents believe that at least $2.1 million dollars
came from fees paid by individuals seeking fraudulent
benefits. Since the accounts were used to hide those
illegal profits the government seized all money in
the accounts. The assets seized come from four bank
accounts in Edison, N.J., and two brokerage accounts
in New York City. Also included in the seizures were
a Mercedes SUV and a Lexus sedan with a combine value
of $100,000.
Acting Newark Special Agent in Charge Thomas E. Manifase
said, Immigration benefit fraud is a multi billion
dollar business and can not be tolerated. This type
of fraud not only steals jobs from legitimate workers
but it also provides individuals to illegally enter
the United States and creates a risk to national security
and public safety.
Manifase pointed out that the investigation is an
outstanding example of how two agencies in the Department
of Homeland Security cooperate to uncover and dismantle
an organization dedicated to undermining the legal
immigration system and making huge profits.
Jennifer L. Mickey, Chief of the USCIS Fraud Detection
Unit said, Individuals who used fraud to obtain
immigration benefits are breaking the law. We take
very seriously our responsibility to protect the integrity
of our immigration system by combating benefit fraud.
The USCIS Fraud Detection Unit, co-located at the
USCIS Vermont Service Center, is a branch of the national
USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Unit.