3 Attorneys Arrested in Visa Fraud Scheme

Three attorneys in West Covina, California have been arrested for allegedly helping immigrants obtain fraudulent work visas and laundering the money to buy cemetery plots.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement believe that Kelly Einstein Darwin Giles, and two of the associates at his firm, Joseph Wai-man Wu and May Yin-man Wu, have been operating the visa fraud scheme for more than a decade. Investigators found that approximately 100 workers paid the attorneys between $6,000 and $50,000 for the fraudulent work visas. 

ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice said proceeds from the scheme totaled at least $830,000, which was used to buy 30 empty burial plots and 20 unmarked gravestones at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, a town about 25 miles away from West Covina.

Authorities do not believe that Rose Hill was involved in the scheme or even knew what was going on.

Officials believe the offenders purchased grave plots because they are a type of real estate that holds its value during a recession.

For now it is unclear as to what will happen to those who obtained visas through the scheme, especially since some of the people have become lawful U.S. residents. Kice says they could lose all of their benefits.

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