Plainsboro man is sentenced to 26 months in prison for immigration fraud scheme

Published: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 5:42 PM
Updated: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 5:42 PM
Sue Epstein/The Star-Ledger By Sue Epstein/The Star-Ledger


A Plainsboro man has been ordered to serve 26 months in federal prison for his role in an immigration fraud conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.

Syed Zaidi, 54, was also ordered Friday by U.S. District Judge William Martini in Newark to serve three years of supervised release after his prison term, according to a statement released today by U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.

Zaidi pleaded guilty last year to submitting fraudulent documents to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and inducing an illegal immigrant to remain in the United States, the statement said.

Documents indicate from July 2002 through June 2009, Zaidi and his co-conspirators helped dozens of immigrants file fraudulent applications with immigration services. The applications typically asserted that the applicants qualified for employment authorization or lawful permanent resident status because they were religious workers or had specialized skills as computer consultants or in graphic design.

The applications contained letters from alleged employers, bank statements and tax records fabricated by Zaidi and his co-conspirators, who charged each applicant anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000 to file the applications, Fishman’s statement said.

In sentencing Zaidi, the judge said he took into account that while out on bail, Zaidi contacted and attempted to influence the testimony of at least two government witnesses.

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