Convicted Deacon Exploited Asylum Program
A Manhattan federal court jury found Liying Lin, a deacon at the Full Gospel Global Mission Church in Flushing, New York, guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud and two counts of immigration fraud after a seven-day trial.
According to the indictment, Lin trained applicants for political asylum on how to answer questions about their religious beliefs and coached the clients on what to say in their asylum interviews. She also served as a translator during the interviews and advised clients on how to answer questions.
As U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara explained, ‘Liying Lin fraudulently exploited a program designed to provide a safe haven for actual victims of persecution.’
Lin, 30, of Flushing, New York, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 2, 2014. She faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy count and a maximum of 10 years in prison for each of the substantive immigration fraud counts.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Blais and Rahul Mukhi are in charge of the prosecution.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation praised the investigative work that led to Lin’s conviction.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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