Two attorneys with West Coast immigration law firm indicted for visa fraud

Lawyers allegedly sought fraudulent work visas for aliens, including firm's employees

LOS ANGELES - A federal grand jury here late yesterday indicted two attorneys with one of the West Coast's largest immigration law firms on charges of filing fraudulent employment visa applications on behalf of foreign nationals, including some of the law firm's own workers.

Previously, a second partner in the KAF firm, Philip Abramowitz, and one of the firm's supervisory paralegals, Heidi Poepping, were charged in separate criminal informations with participating in the scheme. Both defendants have pleaded guilty to conspiracy and Abramowitz additionally pleaded guilty to visa fraud.

The indictment details how the firm hired foreign nationals without work authorization for a variety of support positions, including paralegal jobs. The defendants then allegedly applied for fraudulent work visas for those employees and paid them "off the books" in cash until the visas were approved. To support the visa petitions, the indictment alleges that the defendants created documents making false claims about the aliens' work experience and offers of employment.