A couple from New York admitted engaging in an immigration scheme and have forfeited $1 million of their gains. They could still face jail time.
Loreta Kudera, 45, and Hazel Kudera, from New York City, pleaded guilty in federal court in Vermont on June 9 to charges relating to an immigration fraud scheme, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.
Hazel Kudera owns medical staffing companies in New York that work with hospitals and other medical facilities to provide nursing staff. She and her spouse were accused of submitting false information for H-1B visas, a program through which employers can petition to allow foreign citizens to come to the U.S. to work in certain roles.
According to the department, a limited number of H-1B visas are available annually, and nursing positions generally do not qualify.
The Kuderas admitted submitting false information as part of applications for 100 or more people. They mainly worked with nurses from the Philippines.
On applications, the couple stated that the nurses would be working in occupations that qualify under the H-1B program at higher wage rates.
The Kuderas collected filing fees from the nurses and from health care facilities that contracted with Hazel Kudera’s staffing companies.
According to the U.S. attorney for the District of Vermont, the Kuderas agreed to forfeit $1 million in their proceeds from the scheme.
They are scheduled to be sentenced in September and could face up to five years in prison. They could face a fine of $250,000, or a fine that is twice the amount of their total profit from the scheme.
