Thread: Former Missouri lawmaker sentenced for trucker visa fraud

December 11, 2007
Former Missouri lawmaker sentenced for trucker visa fraud

Former Missouri state Rep. Nathan Cooper was sentenced this week to 15 months in a federal prison for his involvement in a truck driver visa fraud scheme. Cooper pleaded guilty in August to illegally obtaining work visas for hundreds of New Zealand immigrants so they could drive for trucking companies in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas.

According to the Southeast Missourian, U.S. District Judge Jean C. Hamilton ordered the ex-lawmaker from Cape Girardeau to pay a $6,000 fine and go on supervised released for two years following his prison term.

It could have been worse. In August, when Cooper pleaded guilty, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Reap said Cooper could face up to 15 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in St. Louis reported that Cooper fraudulently obtained H2B temporary visas for a number of trucking companies that were his clients. Cooper, a Republican, is an immigration attorney as well as former state representative.

The H2B program is administered through the state of Missouri, as well as the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Department of State.

H2B visas are normally used for seasonal workers, such as landscapers or resort workers. Trucking companies can get them, too, if the need is for less than one year.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Crowe is chief of the criminal division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in St. Louis. In August, he explained to “Land Line Nowâ€

Where in the story does it say this dufus is going to lose his ability to practice law? It doesn't, that I could tell. He should though. Any trained legal person that concocts such a scheme to avoid and break the law should have to give up his/her ability to practice law.

agree with PhredE...

Excellent point PhredE.

It could have been worse. In August, when Cooper pleaded guilty, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Reap said Cooper could face up to 15 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.

It SHOULD have been worse! Unless and until we start imposing the MAX on these traitors to America, nothing is going to change.

Related Earlier Story
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-93813.html