Immigration Fraud and Human Smuggling Ring Busted in Virginia
Alejandro Alba Gomez, a 39-year-old Israeli national, made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday in Alexandria, Virginia, for charges related to smuggling, harboring, and employing illegal workers.
According to court documents, Shai Cohen allegedly organized, led, and worked with others to recruit and facilitate the illegal entry of Israeli citizens into the United States under false pretenses. Cohen and his co-conspirators allegedly assisted noncitizens in fraudulently obtaining B-1/B-2 tourist/visitor visas by misrepresenting the true purpose of their travel to the United States, which was illegal employment.
Cohen and his co-conspirators are alleged to have then assisted the noncitizens with travel to the United States. Upon arrival, the noncitizens were employed at various kiosks owned and operated by Cohen in malls in Virginia and Maryland. The noncitizens who engaged in illegal employment were allegedly primarily compensated for their work by under-the-table cash payments or the transfer of money to stored value payment cards, rather than a legitimate payroll system.
Cohen also allegedly provided housing and transportation for the noncitizens to and from work in the United States.
Cohen was arrested in Israel pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. In August 2023, he was extradited to the Eastern District of Virginia.
Cohen is charged with conspiracy to defraud and commit offenses against the United States, bringing aliens to the United States for financial gain, encouraging and inducing aliens to unlawfully come to enter and reside in the United States for financial gain, harboring illegal aliens, and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, Cohen faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The charges against Cohen stem from an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations, Washington Field Office.
Related Federal Cases
- Gabriele Wohl Deploys Election Fraud Task Force, West Virginia, 2016 · Maryland
- Kofi Kyei Asare Takyi, Passport Fraud, Virginia 2024 · Georgia
- Sunil Thawrani, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Virginia 2024 · Virginia
- Sunyu Qian, Gift Card & Formula Fraud, Virginia 2024 · Arkansas
- Joe Michael Cruz, Human Smuggling, Texas 2024 · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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