Top US lawyers, FilAms in work visa fraud
LOS ANGELES — A pair of prominent immigration lawyers – Daniel E. Korenberg and Steven James Rodriguez – were sentenced for fraudulent employment visa applications, a Department of Justice spokesman here recently announced.
A third lawyer, also a partner at Korenberg, Abramowitz & Feldun (KAF), Philip Abramowitz, 54, of Agoura Hills, is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, March 24. He pleaded guilty to two counts of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
Many Filipinos work for the law firm, which has offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Las Vegas. A former official of the Philippine Consulate in LA allegedly managed the downtown San Diego office of the firm.
Korenberg, 58, of Encino, a partner and founder of KAF, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release with a condition that he serve an additional six months on home detention with electronic monitoring. Korenberg was also ordered to pay a fine of $750,000.
Korenberg, a card-carrying member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), pleaded guilty last fall to two counts of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. KAF, which is now known as ASK Law Group, is based in the San Fernando Valley community of Sherman Oaks.
A second attorney, Steven James Rodriguez, 41, of Thousand Oaks, a senior associate at KAF, was sentenced to three years probation with the condition that he serve six months of home detention with electronic monitoring and perform 200 hours of community service. Rodriguez pleaded guilty last fall to one count of making false statements to the United States, namely, the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Both Korenberg and Rodriguez were sentenced by United States District Judge Percy Anderson. A Department of Justice press release quotes Robert Schoch, special agent in charge for the ICE office of investigations in Los Angeles, saying that, “the fact that the defendants in this case earned their living practicing immigration law makes the charges particularly disturbing," following the two lawyers’ indictment last year.
Abramowitz, a familiar figure among Filipinos here, has vowed to defend himself. The State Bar of California has listed Abramowitz as “not eligible to practice law" as of July 25, 2007 as related to case number 06-C-15537; and again as of September 28, 2007 as related to case number 07-Q-13768.
State bar records indicate that Abramowitz tendered his resignation from the Bar “with charges" on Sept. 28, 2007.
Court papers filed in the case detail how KAF hired foreign nationals without work authorization for a variety of support positions, including paralegal jobs. The defendants then allegedly applied for fraudulent work visas for those employees and paid them “off the books" in cash until the visas were approved. To support the visa petitions, Korenberg and others created documents making false claims about the aliens’ work experience and offers of employment.
Korenberg and others made false statements to the US government in connection with immigration and labor petitions filed on behalf of KAF employees. Rodriguez and others made false statements to the US government in connection with immigration petitions filed on behalf of KAF clients.
Korenberg and Rodriguez were charged in a 33-count indictment handed down in February 2007 following an investigation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the US Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, and the California Employment Development Department. According to the indictment, beginning in 2000 and continuing through at least February 2003, the defendants filed fraudulent employment-based visa petitions on behalf of foreign nationals seeking temporary work authorization or permanent residency in the United States.
At least 19 of the aliens who benefited from the visa fraud scheme were KAF employees.
“These sentences are stern reminders about the consequences awaiting those who conspire to compromise the integrity of our nation’s legal immigration system," said a spokesperson for the ICE Office of Investigations in Los Angeles. “Disturbingly, the defendants in this case used their expertise in immigration law not for the greater good, but to undermine the system and enrich themselves.
In addition to the law firm, the probe targeted two Los Angeles-area employment agencies, Job Seekers International and Employ Masters International. The investigation revealed that the employment agencies identified employers, both real and fictitious, to attest that the aliens
seeking the work visas were being recruited for highly skilled jobs that, in most instances, did not exist.
Philippine News sources attest that the two agencies are either fully-owned, co-owned or managed Filipino citizens. Employ Masters International held office at 3600 Wilshire Blvd., the same address as the Philippine Consulate. The agency’s number has been disconnected.
The Philippine Consulate is aware an investigation on a former official is under way, but is declining to make a statement “pending proper investigation." “We can’t comment for now because we are still waiting. He is not yet charged," a source told PN.
In 2005, the three owners of Job Seekers International and Employ Masters International and one of their employees pleaded guilty to visa fraud and conspiracy charges. Those four defendants are awaiting sentencing.
The other defendants charged in the case are:
(1) Heidi Poepping, 45, of Moorpark, a paralegal at KAF, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit visa fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 21;
(2) Arturo Valencia, 56, of Walnut, the owner of Job Seekers International, pleaded guilty two years ago to one count of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12;
(3) Maria Theresa Resurreccion, 40, of Anaheim, an employee of Job Seekers International, pleaded guilty to one count of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5;
(4) Arnel Dizon, 36, of Corona, a co-owner of Employ Masters International, pleaded guilty to one count of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 28; and
5) Marlyn Rodriguez Dizon (Arnel’s wife), 44, of Los Angeles, a co-owner of Employ Masters International, pleaded guilty in May 2005 to one count of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14.
Valencia, Resurreccion and the Dizons are Filipinos. - Philippine News
A third lawyer, also a partner at Korenberg, Abramowitz & Feldun (KAF), Philip Abramowitz, 54, of Agoura Hills, is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, March 24. He pleaded guilty to two counts of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
Many Filipinos work for the law firm, which has offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Las Vegas. A former official of the Philippine Consulate in LA allegedly managed the downtown San Diego office of the firm.
Korenberg, 58, of Encino, a partner and founder of KAF, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release with a condition that he serve an additional six months on home detention with electronic monitoring. Korenberg was also ordered to pay a fine of $750,000.
Korenberg, a card-carrying member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), pleaded guilty last fall to two counts of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. KAF, which is now known as ASK Law Group, is based in the San Fernando Valley community of Sherman Oaks.
A second attorney, Steven James Rodriguez, 41, of Thousand Oaks, a senior associate at KAF, was sentenced to three years probation with the condition that he serve six months of home detention with electronic monitoring and perform 200 hours of community service. Rodriguez pleaded guilty last fall to one count of making false statements to the United States, namely, the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Both Korenberg and Rodriguez were sentenced by United States District Judge Percy Anderson. A Department of Justice press release quotes Robert Schoch, special agent in charge for the ICE office of investigations in Los Angeles, saying that, “the fact that the defendants in this case earned their living practicing immigration law makes the charges particularly disturbing," following the two lawyers’ indictment last year.
Abramowitz, a familiar figure among Filipinos here, has vowed to defend himself. The State Bar of California has listed Abramowitz as “not eligible to practice law" as of July 25, 2007 as related to case number 06-C-15537; and again as of September 28, 2007 as related to case number 07-Q-13768.
State bar records indicate that Abramowitz tendered his resignation from the Bar “with charges" on Sept. 28, 2007.
Court papers filed in the case detail how KAF hired foreign nationals without work authorization for a variety of support positions, including paralegal jobs. The defendants then allegedly applied for fraudulent work visas for those employees and paid them “off the books" in cash until the visas were approved. To support the visa petitions, Korenberg and others created documents making false claims about the aliens’ work experience and offers of employment.
Korenberg and others made false statements to the US government in connection with immigration and labor petitions filed on behalf of KAF employees. Rodriguez and others made false statements to the US government in connection with immigration petitions filed on behalf of KAF clients.
Korenberg and Rodriguez were charged in a 33-count indictment handed down in February 2007 following an investigation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the US Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, and the California Employment Development Department. According to the indictment, beginning in 2000 and continuing through at least February 2003, the defendants filed fraudulent employment-based visa petitions on behalf of foreign nationals seeking temporary work authorization or permanent residency in the United States.
At least 19 of the aliens who benefited from the visa fraud scheme were KAF employees.
“These sentences are stern reminders about the consequences awaiting those who conspire to compromise the integrity of our nation’s legal immigration system," said a spokesperson for the ICE Office of Investigations in Los Angeles. “Disturbingly, the defendants in this case used their expertise in immigration law not for the greater good, but to undermine the system and enrich themselves.
In addition to the law firm, the probe targeted two Los Angeles-area employment agencies, Job Seekers International and Employ Masters International. The investigation revealed that the employment agencies identified employers, both real and fictitious, to attest that the aliens
seeking the work visas were being recruited for highly skilled jobs that, in most instances, did not exist.
Philippine News sources attest that the two agencies are either fully-owned, co-owned or managed Filipino citizens. Employ Masters International held office at 3600 Wilshire Blvd., the same address as the Philippine Consulate. The agency’s number has been disconnected.
The Philippine Consulate is aware an investigation on a former official is under way, but is declining to make a statement “pending proper investigation." “We can’t comment for now because we are still waiting. He is not yet charged," a source told PN.
In 2005, the three owners of Job Seekers International and Employ Masters International and one of their employees pleaded guilty to visa fraud and conspiracy charges. Those four defendants are awaiting sentencing.
The other defendants charged in the case are:
(1) Heidi Poepping, 45, of Moorpark, a paralegal at KAF, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit visa fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 21;
(2) Arturo Valencia, 56, of Walnut, the owner of Job Seekers International, pleaded guilty two years ago to one count of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12;
(3) Maria Theresa Resurreccion, 40, of Anaheim, an employee of Job Seekers International, pleaded guilty to one count of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5;
(4) Arnel Dizon, 36, of Corona, a co-owner of Employ Masters International, pleaded guilty to one count of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 28; and
5) Marlyn Rodriguez Dizon (Arnel’s wife), 44, of Los Angeles, a co-owner of Employ Masters International, pleaded guilty in May 2005 to one count of visa fraud and one count of conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14.
Valencia, Resurreccion and the Dizons are Filipinos. - Philippine News
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