The FBI conducted multiple raids across Dallas and Collin counties as part of a federal investigation into a visa fraud and money laundering scheme on Thursday, May 22, sources told WFAA.
Attorney D. Robert Jones, is alleged to have collaborated with a network of individuals to unlawfully obtain U.S. visas for Pakistani nationals through fraudulent means.
The operation reportedly involved the creation of shell companies to funnel illicit funds and facilitating the issuance of visas under false pretenses. The scheme is believed to have been active for several years.
Jones and the other defendants are accused of conspiring to defraud United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, according to the arrest affidavit.
“It was the purpose of the conspiracy for defendants…to wrongfully enrich themselves by receiving payments from visa seekers, submitting false and fraudulent applications and other documents to USCIS as part of the visa seekers’ application to obtain visas and to remain in the United States,” the affidavit alleges.
The affidavit accuses the defendants of using the bank accounts of Jones’ law office and another business, Reliable Ventures, to receive payments from visa seekers and then return part of the money back to them as purported payroll.
The defendants are also accused of making false and fraudulent statements in immigration documents and of money laundering.
According to the affidavit, each defendant agreed a conspirator “would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity in the conduct of the Enterprise’s affairs.”
Hellbound and Down 