http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/42724.html


Law firm accused of immigration scam
Scores allegedly won asylum with fake papers, testimony
By Denny Walsh - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 1:02 am PDT Friday, October 20, 2006
Story appeared in METRO section, Page B3

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The government granted asylum status to scores of immigrants based on fraudulent documents and false testimony orchestrated by a Sacramento law firm, according to a federal grand jury indictment made public Thursday.

The indictment alleges that between early 2000 and late 2004, five defendants filed countless asylum applications with the government containing fictitious stories of ethnic, religious or political persecution the clients supposedly suffered in their home countries.

The applications were often supported by doctors' letters, medical certificates, affidavits and other documents which were all counterfeit, the indictment alleges.

Among defendants named in the indictment are brothers Jagprit Sekhon, 37, and Jagdip Sekhon, 39, attorneys and erstwhile partners in the Sekhon & Sekhon law firm.

Amid the protracted investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the firm's Sacramento office shut down. The San Francisco office remains open and is headed by Jagdip Sekhon. His brother is no longer associated with the firm.

"Scores of alien clients of Sekhon & Sekhon who would not have been entitled to asylum status in the United States fraudulently obtained asylum status," the indictment states.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner said there is no precise number of clients who unlawfully obtained asylum status; he estimated it is "more than 400 and less than 1,000."

Eventually, the prosecutor said, "cases in which fraud is suspected will be reopened."

Revisiting the files is an administrative matter, Wagner said, that "will probably take some time."

Asked if the comparatively high percentage of approvals by the government's regional asylum office in San Francisco, which has jurisdiction throughout Northern California, was a factor in the high volume of cases handled by Sekhon & Sekhon, Wagner said:

"I think that was part of the appeal. The law firm operated in this region and used that to its advantage."

The primary business of Sekhon & Sekhon was asylum applications on behalf of clients from India and Romania. The applicants came from throughout the United States but filed phony Northern California addresses supplied by the law firm, the indictment says.

Part of the government's investigation involved an informant who contacted Sekhon & Sekhon in September 2003 requesting assistance in legalizing his immigration status, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in connection with the case. The informant posed as a Romanian national from the state of Georgia who had overstayed his tourist visa. In his face-to-face contacts with Sekhon & Sekhon personnel, he was equipped with a recording device, according to the affidavit.

An immigrant is eligible for asylum if he or she can establish an inability or unwillingness to return to his or her native country because of a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Also named in the indictment as defendants are Manjit Kaur Rai, 31, an attorney who worked at Sekhon & Sekhon, and Iosif Caza, 40, and Luciana Harmath, 27, who acted as interpreters for the firm's Romanian clients.

The defendants conspired to use "deceit, craft and trickery" to gain asylum status for their clients, the indictment alleges.

In addition to the omnibus conspiracy count, Jagprit Sekhon is charged in 11 counts alleging false statements in asylum applications, three counts relating to alleged false testimony given by his clients to asylum and immigration officials, and one count of conspiring to make false statements.

A criminal forfeiture count seeks to recover from the Sekhon brothers $2,542,500, "representing the amount of proceeds (they) obtained as a result of the offenses."

In addition to the omnibus conspiracy count, Rai is charged in one count alleging false statements in asylum applications, one count relating to alleged false testimony, one count of conspiring to make false statements, and one count of making false statements to Homeland Security special agents investigating the law firm's practices.

In addition to conspiracy, Caza is charged in nine counts alleging false statements in asylum applications, three counts relating to alleged false testimony, and one count of conspiring to make false statements.

The criminal forfeiture count seeks $685,125 from Caza.

Harmath is also charged with conspiracy, and two counts alleging false statements in asylum applications, one count relating to alleged false testimony, and one count of conspiring to make false statements.

Jagprit Sekhon could not be located and his attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

Attorney David Dratman, who represents Jagdip Sekhon, said his client "will vigorously dispute the one charge against him -- conspiracy. He is not only presumed innocent, he is innocent."

Attorney James Greiner, who represents Rai, declined to comment as he left a federal courtroom Thursday where his client had just entered a plea of not guilty.

Assistant Federal Defender Timothy Zindel, who represents Caza, said, "We think there's nothing to support the charges."

Reached at his Sacramento home, Caza labeled the charges against him "a big lie. None of it happened."

Reached at her home in Arizona, Harmath declined to comment.

The indictment alleges that Jagprit Sekhon and Rai directed clients to collect documents to support a fictitious story, and that Romanian clients who wanted assistance were referred to Caza who, for a fee, would generate counterfeit records that appeared to have been created in Romania.

The indictment alleges that all five defendants participated in preparation sessions with clients prior to the clients' testimony before an asylum officer or immigration judge, at which the defendants rehearsed the clients in telling the fictitious stories.

Both Sekhons and Rai represented clients at asylum hearings where clients testified falsely and where Caza and Harmath acted as interpreters, according to the indictment.

About the writer:
The Bee's Denny Walsh can be reached at (916) 321-1189 or dwalsh@sacbee.com.


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rogersg at 6:24 AM PST Friday, October 20, 2006 wrote:
How many attorneys "conspire" to aid and abet immigration law crimes ? With 4 to 5 million illegal ...more

jangrl13 at 9:59 AM PST Friday, October 20, 2006 wrote:
Did you even read the article? This law firm's lies and deceit allowed their clients to recieve LEG...more

rogersg at 10:41 AM PST Friday, October 20, 2006 wrote:
Are you not aware that there is a whole industry of forged documents and legal sympathizers who aid ...more


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