Sunila Dutt is one of several people affiliated with SCM Data and MMC Systems prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office
NEWARK -- A Virginia immigration lawyer for two IT staffing companies, one of them based in Jersey City, admitted in federal court Monday that she had falsified employment records and visa paperwork for foreign contractors in order to get visas.
The federal courthouse in Newark, where immigration lawyer Sunila Dutt pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to commit visa fraud. Sunila Dutt, 39, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in Newark to charges of conspiring to commit visa fraud and obstruct justice, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors say Dutt, of Auburn, Virginia was employed by both Virginia-based MMC Systems and SCM Data Inc., of Jersey City.
Dutt is one of several people affiliated with SCM Data and MMC Systems prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in connection with alleged visa fraud at the companies. Both of the companies are partly owned by Sowrabh Sharma, of New York, who himself was arrested in September on similar federal charges.
Prosecutors say Dutt and her fellow conspirators falsified visa paperwork, payroll records and other documents in order to lead the government to believe the workers already had full-time employment and annual salaries, prerequisites for an H1-B visa.
In fact, prosecutors say, the workers were paid only when they were placed with clients of SCM Data and MMC Systems.
Prosecutors say workers were required to pay the companies their gross wages in cash, a smaller portion of which would be paid back in the form of bogus payroll checks.
Dutt faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Her sentencing has been scheduled for Feb. 6, 2017.
Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.