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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Immigration Conspiracy Alleged in Virginia

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (CN) - Hyundai Emigration Corp., of Korea, accuses two U.S. immigration services firms of racketeering and immigration fraud. Hyundai says it paid Empower-Visa, of Fairfax, $1.3 million to get visas and labor certifications for 75 clients. It says Empower listed firms as immigration sponsors without the firms' knowledge, sought multiple labor certs for the same person to sneak in additional immigrants, and committed other frauds so that all visas but one were denied.

Hyundai also sued WorldWide Employment, also of Fairfax; Empower principal John P. Yoon, who also is "executive advisor" for WorldWide; and Jay W. Lee, president of WorldWide.

Hyundai says it paid the defendants $15,000 to $30,000 apiece for 30 clients, a total of $1,311,785. Among the multiple frauds Hyundai alleges, in claiming a RICO conspiracy, are that "John Yoon (instead of the alleged sponsors) signed all immigration petitions." It says U.S. officials cited this as one reason to deny and revoke the applications.

Hyundai says "the corporate sponsors were not aware that Yoon used their businesses for immigration petitions. Unbeknownst to the corporate sponsors, defendants used them as immigration vehicles and collected large fees from immigration beneficiaries."

It claims that "Defendants apparently filed multiple labor certifications for the same beneficiary, presumably with the purpose of sponsoring additional immigrants, which is called 'substitution' and now prohibited by law."

It claims that "defendants Yoon and Empower subsequently agreed with WorldWide to transfer all Hyundai clients to WorldWide."

And it claims that "The U.S. Department [sic] has denied all but one of the immigration case filed and serviced by the defendants, citing, among other things, fraud, failure to respond to the department's audit requests, and misrepresentations."Hyundai demands damages for RICO conspiracy, fraud, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment. It wants its $1.3 million back, plus punitive damages. It is represented in Federal Court by Mike Meier with the International Law Group of Cabin John, Md

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