ilbegone
10-18-2009, 08:49 PM
SoCal attorney charged with selling phony visas
The Associated Press
WEST COVINA
Authorities say a Southern California attorney and two associates have been arrested on suspicion of selling phony employment visas and buying vacant burial plots to launder the money.
The Thursday arrest of 46-year-old Kelly Einstein Darwin Giles and two others comes after a 2 1/2-year investigation by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement.
ICE agent Jorge Guzman alleges the trio set up fake companies and charged between $6,000 and $50,000 each to file about 100 fraudulent visa applications.
Customs agents searched Giles' law office in West Covina and seized documents and computer equipment. They also seized 30 vacant burial plots and 20 blank grave monuments they claim Giles bought to hide the proceeds.
A message seeking comment left at Giles office Sunday night was not immediately returned.
The Associated Press
WEST COVINA
Authorities say a Southern California attorney and two associates have been arrested on suspicion of selling phony employment visas and buying vacant burial plots to launder the money.
The Thursday arrest of 46-year-old Kelly Einstein Darwin Giles and two others comes after a 2 1/2-year investigation by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement.
ICE agent Jorge Guzman alleges the trio set up fake companies and charged between $6,000 and $50,000 each to file about 100 fraudulent visa applications.
Customs agents searched Giles' law office in West Covina and seized documents and computer equipment. They also seized 30 vacant burial plots and 20 blank grave monuments they claim Giles bought to hide the proceeds.
A message seeking comment left at Giles office Sunday night was not immediately returned.