Thread: Springfield residents from Russia indicted for immigration

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Published November 17, 2006

Springfield residents from Russia indicted for immigration fraud

News-Leader Staff

A federal grand jury has indicted four Russians and a Polish woman for allegedly submitting false documents to obtain foreign labor visas for hundreds of area employees.

The defendants were charged in a 17-count indictment returned in Kansas City on Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today.

The defendants include Serguei Choukline, also known as Anton Kim, 48, and his wife Irina Choukline, 44, both Russian natives who reside in Springfield.

Others are Anna Bauer, 28, a Russian native residing in Falls Church, Va.; Irina Lemetyuynen, 38, a Russian native residing in Springfield, and Angnieszka Koblenc, 31, a Poland native residing in Springfield.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Serguei Choukline was a director and Irina Choukline was the secretary of Midwest Hotel Management Corporation, 1316 W. Highway 76 in Branson. The company provides workers to area hotels.

Bauer, Lemetyuynen and Koblenc were Midwest employees.

Midwest allegedly submitted 15 foreign labor visa applications containing numerous false statements to obtain about 300 foreign labor visas, including visas for Lemetyuynen and Koblenc.

False application statements included fictitious corporate officers, fraudulent reference letters and improper listing of employment places, the office alleged.

Midwest gained about $1.5 million fraudulently through the process, the office alleged.

This week’s indictment replaced an earlier indictment and omitted Monica A. Lopez, 25, a Mexican citizen and Midwest’s human resources director. Lopez has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting visa fraud.

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Residents from Russia indicted for immigration fraud
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