Indian rejects visa fraud allegations

WASHINGTON, DC — Indian American Abhijit Prasad, who has been charged in the United States with fraud and aggravated identity theft for obtaining two H-1B visas by false immigration documents, has rejected the allegations.

According to a release issued by US Attorney’s Office Eastern District of California, the federal grand jury returned a 33-count indictment on December 23 against Prasad of Tracy, Calif., charging him with 31 counts of visa fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, Prasad filed 31 petitions for H-1B non-immigrant visas containing false statements, made under penalty of perjury, as to purported work projects to be performed at various locations in California.

The indictment further alleges that Prasad obtained two H-1B visas procured by fraud and false statements, and used the means of identification of a real person to effectuate his visa fraud scheme, the release by attorney Phillip A Talbert’s office said.

On December 23, the defendant was arraigned on the indictment and released with conditions, including the surrender of his passport and a bond until a further detention hearing.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of ten years on each visa fraud count, and a $250,000 fine. He faces a two-year mandatory, consecutive sentence on the aggravated identity theft counts, as well as a $250,000 fine.

"The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt," the release by the US Attorney’s office said.