Brothers Plead Guilty In Immigration Fraud CaseU.S. Department of JusticeAlexandria, VA January 24, 2008 Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney Eastern District of Virginia Two Guilty Pleas in Immigration Fraud Conspiracy Chi Chan Hwang, age 47 of Lorton, Virginia and John Chikwon Hwang, age 49, of Centreville, Virginia pled guilty yesterday to charges arising from an immigration fraud conspiracy in which they 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 pled guilty to Count 2 of the indictment, which charged him with conspiracy to encourage an alien to unlawfully reside in the United States. He also agreed to a $300,000 forfeiture order. John Hwang pled guilty a criminal information charging him with making false statements to federal law enforcement agents who were investigating the conspiracy. In exchange for their guilty pleas, the remaining charges against the defendants 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 Chi Chan Hwang and John Hwang is set for April 11, 2007. "By submitting fraudulent labor certifications in order to facilitate the unlawful entry of foreign workers, these individuals sought to exploit our labor laws for considerable personal profit," said Gordon Heddell, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, "Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to target those who abuse the foreign labor certification program." The case was investigated by the Offices of the Inspectors General of the Department of Labor and Department of State, with assistance provided by the Department of Homeland Security, the 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. Contact: Jim Rybicki |
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