An Israeli national pleaded guilty Tuesday to his role in recruiting and helping Israeli citizens get illegal entry to the U.S., federal officials stated.
Shai Cohen plead guilty to conspiracy to launder money and facilitate the illegal entry, harboring, and transporting noncitizens in the United States for employment.
According to court documents, Cohen, 39, admitted to organizing and working with others to recruit and facilitate the illegal entry of Israeli citizens into the United States under false pretenses.
From approximately 2011 through December 2013, Cohen and his co-conspirators assisted noncitizens in fraudulently obtaining B-1/B-2 tourist/visitor visas by misrepresenting the true purpose of their travel to the United States, which was illegal employment.
Cohen and his co-conspirators then assisted the noncitizens in traveling to the United States. Upon arrival, the noncitizens were employed at various kiosks owned and operated by Cohen and his co-conspirators in malls in Virginia and Maryland, despite entering the United States in a visa status that did not allow them to work.
The noncitizens who engaged in illegal employment were compensated for their work by under-the-table cash payments or the transfer of money to stored-value payment cards, rather than through a legitimate payroll system, officials stated.
Cohen also provided housing and transportation for noncitizens to and from work in the United States.
Cohen and his co-conspirators also used foreign and domestic bank accounts for financial transactions to pay for leased office space, apartments, airline tickets, vehicles, and other business costs in furtherance of and to promote the criminal scheme.
Cohen was arrested in Israel under a U.S. request for his extradition. In August, he was extradited to Virginia, according to authorities.
Cohen faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of all the charges.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 19. Cohen is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Clayton O’Connor of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raizza K. Ty for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.