Ex-CEO Gets Prison for H-1B Fraud Scheme Involving 250 Workers

The former chief executive officer of two information technology consulting companies was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for running an H-1B visa fraud scheme involving some 250 workers.

Pradyumna Samal, an Indian citizen who had fled the U.S. during the visa fraud investigation, operated the “largest and most sophisticated H-1B visa fraud scheme” prosecuted in western Washington, said Brian Moran, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington.

The scheme harmed both H-1B specialty occupation workers, who were deprived of pay, and U.S. workers, who were deprived of job opportunities, Moran said.

A representative for Samal wasn’t ...