Lorton Man Sentenced to 33 Months for Immigration Fraud Conspiracy

(Alexandria, Virginia) - Chi Chan Hwang, age 47, of Lorton, Virginia, was sentenced today 33 months in federal prison and forfeiture of $300,000 for his role in an immigration fraud conspiracy in which he and two of his brothers participated. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Gordon Heddell, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, made the announcement.

According to an indictment returned on September 12, 2007, John Chikwon Hwang, owner and Vice President of Brothers Construction Company (BCC) located in Lorton, Virginia, conspired with his brothers Chi Chan Hwang and Charlie Chiwon Hwang and others to submit to the Department of Labor and other government agencies, fraudulent immigration-related documents in an effort to obtain permanent residence cards (“green cards”) for aliens seeking permanent residency in the United States. According to the indictment, the brothers filed fraudulent applications for alien labor certification claiming that the aliens would work for BCC, when in fact the aliens never worked for the company. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the indictment also alleged that the brothers arranged to have paychecks from BCC prepared and provided to the aliens to fraudulently demonstrate to the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies their purported employment with BCC.

Chi Chan Hwang had pleaded guilty on January 23, 2008, to Count 2 of the indictment, which charged him with conspiracy to encourage an alien to unlawfully reside in the United States. Also that day John Hwang pleaded guilty a criminal information charging him with making false statements to federal law enforcement agents who were investigating the conspiracy. As part of their plea agreements, the remaining charges were dismissed. Charlie Hwang had earlier pleaded guilty to a related conspiracy charge on April 20, 2007. On November 8, 2007, he was sentenced to 21 months in prison and $250,000 in forfeiture. The sentencing for John Hwang is set for April 18, 2007.

The case was primarily investigated by special agents from the Department of Labor and Department of State’s Offices of Inspectors General, with assistance provided by special agents from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James P. Gillis and Michael E. Rich.

###