Pottstown Man Charged in Visa Fraud Scheme

Jude Solis, 50, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, is facing federal charges in a visa fraud scheme that enabled undocumented workers to stay on the job. The Supervisor at Asplundh Tree Experts, Inc. was charged today by Information with one count of conspiracy to commit fraud and misuse visas and one count of fraud and misuse of visas.

According to Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen, from around 2010 to December 2014, Solis knowingly accepted and processed false identification documents from employees. Those documents allowed workers previously flagged by Homeland Security Investigations as unauthorized aliens to be rehired, bypassing federal employment verification systems.

The scheme directly undermined U.S. immigration and labor laws, turning a blind eye to credentials that should have raised red flags. By accepting fraudulent paperwork, Solis allegedly created a backdoor for individuals barred from legal employment to return to the company’s payroll—actions prosecutors say were deliberate and sustained.

If convicted, Solis faces up to ten years in federal prison, a $500,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment. The charges carry the weight of federal fraud statutes, underscoring the seriousness of institutional complicity in immigration violations.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which has cracked down on employment-related fraud across critical infrastructure sectors. Authorities say the case reveals systemic vulnerabilities exploited by supervisors willing to ignore federal mandates for operational convenience.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Josh A. Davison and Assistant United States Attorney L.C. Wright are prosecuting the case. An Information is not a conviction—it is an accusation. Jude Solis is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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