CHICAGO — Zhao Tai Cui, a 60-year-old Chicago resident, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for masterminding an immigration visa fraud scheme.
Cui’s operation, which began in 2013 and ran until 2019, involved charging F-1 visa holders to falsely verify employment with his sham company. With the intent to extend their stay in the U.S., Cui advertised these fraudulent services on various websites, ultimately misleading at least 250 F-1 visa holders.
According to authorities, Cui incorporated a company in Illinois specifically to serve as a front for his scheme. The defendant pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to commit visa fraud, a charge that reflects the extensive nature of his deception.
Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman, who presided over the case, sentenced Cui to two years in prison and ordered him to pay a personal money judgment of $652,963. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin Walgamuth emphasized during the sentencing that such crimes undermine public trust in the immigration system.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
Cui’s fraudulent activities not only exploited foreign nationals seeking legitimate employment but also disrupted the integrity of the visa process, marking a significant victory for law enforcement in their fight against immigration fraud.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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