Two Men Sentenced for Embezzlement in Northern Mariana Islands’ CW-1 Visa Fraud Scheme

A Major Crackdown on Immigration Fraud

In a significant move against immigration fraud, two men have been sentenced for their roles in a scheme that defrauded the US government and exploited foreign workers in the Northern Mariana Islands. The scam involved willfully abusing the CW-1 Visa Program, which allows temporary workers to enter the United States for employment.

How the Scheme Worked

According to authorities, one of the accused, a business owner, petitioned for at least 99 non-citizens to enter the country under fraudulent employment contracts. However, an investigation revealed that he never intended to employ these individuals and instead:

Charged them hefty fees for the visa
Required them to pay him every two weeks to maintain their status

The scheme was uncovered by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which found that the company would direct workers to take undocumented jobs in various industries, including:

Construction
Groundskeeping
Housekeeping

Sentencing

The business owner was convicted of visa fraud and sentenced to:

21 months in prison
Three years of supervised release
A $7,000 fine
A $100 special assessment fee

A second defendant was also convicted for his involvement in the scheme and received a sentence of:

Six months’ home confinement
36 months of probation
72 months of supervised release
50 hours of community service
A $100 special assessment fee

Statement from HSI Special Agent John F. Tobon

“This case highlights the seriousness of defrauding the immigration process and exploiting vulnerable foreign workers,” said John F. Tobon, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Honolulu. “HSI will continue to investigate these crimes vigorously to protect the integrity of our immigration system.”

About the CW-1 Visa Program

The CW-1 visa program allows temporary workers to enter the US for employment in the Northern Mariana Islands, but requires employers to meet strict requirements, including:

Obtaining a temporary labor certification from the US Department of Labor
Participating in the E-Verify program

The sentencing announcement is part of a broader effort by the US government to crack down on immigration-related fraud and protect foreign workers from exploitation.