Danhong ‘Jean’ Chen, Visa Fraud, California 2023

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Table of Contents

Defendant’s Visa Fraud Scheme Unravels

San Jose immigration lawyer Danhong ‘Jean’ Chen, also known as Maria Sofia Taylor, has been extradited from the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States. Chen, 60, will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen in federal district court in San Jose this afternoon.

This marks the first extradition from the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States on federal criminal charges. Chen’s extradition comes after she was at large since leaving the U.S. in 2018, following a civil complaint filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The complaint alleged Chen improperly solicited investments and committed other violations of law.

Chen and her business partner, Jianyun ‘Tony’ Ye, were indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2019 on 14 counts of visa fraud and related crimes. The indictment alleges Chen committed visa fraud to obtain immigration benefits for more than 100 foreign investors through the EB-5 visa program.

The EB-5 program allows foreign nationals to obtain permanent U.S. residency by investing in qualifying businesses in the United States. Chen’s law firm, the Law Offices of Jean D. Chen, represented clients who invested approximately $52,000,000 into projects under the EB-5 program.

According to the indictment, Chen fraudulently obtained immigration benefits for her clients by submitting false documents to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Chen also allegedly obstructed justice by directing an individual to delete emails relevant to the investigations into the visa fraud.

Chen’s business partner, Jianyun ‘Tony’ Ye, pleaded guilty to visa fraud and obstruction in 2021 and was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison. He has since served his sentence and been released from custody.

Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, and SEC Office of the Inspector General (SEC OIG) Inspector General Deborah Jeffrey made the announcement.