Crackdown on Visa Fraud: Californian Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring in Multi-Year Conspiracy

In a major victory for US law enforcement, Hrachya Atoyan, a 32-year-old man from Glendale, California, confessed to his role in a multi-year conspiracy that brought Armenian citizens to the United States under false pretenses.

Hrachya Atoyan’s Plea

Last week, Atoyan pleaded guilty to visa fraud and conspiracy to unlawfully bring in aliens before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sanket J. Bulsara in the Eastern District of New York. His sentencing is scheduled for February 20, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Margo K. Brodie.

The Fraudscheme

According to the indictment, Atoyan conspired with a network of co-conspirators to defraud the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by falsely claiming that Armenian citizens were members of performance groups, thereby making them eligible for P-3 “Culturally Unique Artist" visas.

P-3 Visa System: The scheme exploited the P-3 visa system, which is intended for legitimate performers, and has been ongoing for several years.
Fraudsters Condemned: Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski condemned the fraudsters, stating that they made a mockery out of the legitimate performers for whom that visa was intended.
U.S. Attorney’s Statement: U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue of the Eastern District of New York also addressed the issue, stating that Atoyan’s guilty plea brings down the curtain on an elaborate visa fraud scheme.
Violation of Trust and National Security: Todd J. Brown, Director of the Diplomatic Security Service, described the incident as a violation of trust and national security.

The Mastermind

Stella Boyadjian, a 42-year-old woman from Rego Park, New York, masterminded the operation, as revealed in a 15-count indictment last year. Along with Atoyan, she and Diana Grigoryan were charged with money laundering and identity theft. Boyadjian had already pleaded guilty on March 4, 2019.

The Scheme

Non-Profit Organization: Boyadjian ran a non-profit organization called Big Apple Music Awards Foundation (BAMA), which she utilized to perpetrate the fraud.
Training and Deception: The conspirators charged Armenian citizens seeking to enter the U.S. between $3,000 and $10,000 and promised them places on the Form I-129 Petitions. To make it appear as if the aliens were traditional Armenian performers, Boyadjian and her associates fabricated performer certificates and conducted staged photo sessions.
Deception at Consular Interviews: The fraudulent applicants were trained on how to deceive U.S. consular officers during their visa interviews using the certificates and photos.
P-3 Visa Extensions: Upon entering the U.S., some individuals paid Boyadjian and her colleagues additional sums to be included in another fraudulent petition requesting P-3 visa extensions.

Investigation and Prosecution

The case was the result of a joint investigation by the Diplomatic Security Service’s Criminal Fraud Investigations and Overseas Criminal Investigations Division in conjunction with the USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security and Center Fraud Detection Operations - Vermont. Trial Attorney Sasha N. Rutizer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gopstein of the Eastern District of New York are handling the prosecution.

For further information about USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov. Follow them on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn for the latest updates.