Tracy Man Indicted in $250K H-1B Visa Fraud Scheme

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Abhijit Prasad, 49, of Tracy, is facing a federal indictment on 31 counts of H-1B visa fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft, marking one of the most extensive visa abuse cases uncovered in Northern California in recent years. The charges, handed down Thursday by a federal grand jury, expose a calculated scheme to exploit a temporary worker program meant for skilled foreign professionals.

According to the indictment, Prasad submitted 31 false H-1B visa petitions containing statements made under penalty of perjury, falsely claiming work projects at various California locations. Each petition was a fabricated entry in a broader effort to deceive U.S. immigration authorities. The Department of Justice alleges Prasad used the personal identification of a real individual to carry out the fraud, breaching both immigration law and identity protections.

The H-1B visas obtained through these fraudulent filings were not for legitimate employment but part of a shadow operation designed to circumvent federal oversight. Authorities say Prasad’s actions undermined the integrity of a visa system already under scrutiny for misuse by third-party contractors and shell employers. The misuse of another person’s identity to secure these visas adds a criminal layer to an already serious offense.

The investigation was led by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, through its role in the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), which operates under the oversight of Homeland Security Investigations. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security also contributed critical intelligence in tracing the fraudulent applications back to Prasad.

If convicted, Prasad faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the visa fraud charges. On the two counts of aggravated identity theft, he faces a mandatory two-year prison sentence to be served consecutively, plus another $250,000 fine. Federal prosecutors are pushing for full accountability, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nirav Desai leading the case.

The charges against Abhijit Prasad are allegations only. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The court will determine any sentence after weighing statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. As the case unfolds, it stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of exploiting immigration systems for personal gain.

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