Alpharetta immigration attorney accused of fraud

Atlanta Journal-Constitution
January 25, 2011
By Ty Tagami

An Alpharetta immigration attorney is facing federal fraud charges that could land him in prison for decades.

Parmesh N. Dixit, 40, was arraigned Tuesday on 28 counts of visa fraud, a count of conspiracy and 42 counts of alien harboring for the purpose of private financial gain, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta.

Dixit lied about his client's qualifications to obtain work visas for them over a 3-year period ending in July 2008, U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said. "This immigration attorney allegedly used his knowledge of the United States' visa programs to fraudulently manipulate the system for dozens of clients."

Dixit allegedly charged his clients higher than normal fees, telling them he could get them unmerited "green cards" that would give them resident alien status.

He was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard, and released on a $50,000 secured bond. He also was ordered to surrender his U.S. and U.K. passports.

Dixit faces a fine of a quarter of a million dollars on each count, and a decade in prison on each count except the conspiracy charge, which calls for a maximum of five years in prison.

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