WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Indian-American Sowrabh Sharma, who recruited foreign workers, mainly from India with alleged IT expertise, was arrested at the end of September for charges of H-1B visa fraud.
Sharma, 31, of New York, along with Shikha Mohta, 33, of Jersey City, New Jersey, head of finance for the companies, SCM Data and MMC Systems have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud and to obstruct justice and one count of conspiracy to harbor aliens.
Prosecutors allege that SCM Data, MMC Systems, Sharma, Mohta and other conspirators recruited foreign workers with IT expertise who sought work in the United States. They then sponsored foreign workers’ H-1B visas with the stated purpose of working for SCM Data and MMC Systems’ clients throughout the United States.
“When submitting the visa paperwork to USCIS, the conspirators falsely represented that the foreign workers had full-time positions and were paid an annual salary, as required to secure the H-1B visas,” prosecutors said.
SCM Data, MMC Systems, Sharma, Mohta and others paid the foreign workers only when they were placed at a third-party client who entered into a contract with their companies, prosecutors said.
Upon an audit of Sharma’s firms, federal officials says the defendants allegedly provided falsified leave or vacation slips for times the foreign workers were not working, aiming to hide they were not paid as mandated by federal law.
The visa fraud and obstruction of justice conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The alien harbouring conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
