Georgia Immigration Attorney Parmesh Dixit Faces Fraud Charges

An Alpharetta immigration attoey has been indicted on charges that he lied about his clients’ qualifications for U.S. work visas.

Parmesh N. Dixit, 40, of Alpharetta, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of visa fraud, alien harboring, and conspiracy.

Dixit was released on $50,000 bond after arraignment by federal Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard and ordered to surrender his U.S. and United Kingdom passports.

 U.S. Attoey Sally Quillian Yates said Dixit allegedly used his knowledge of U.S. visa programs to fraudulently manipulate the system for dozens of clients.

”Lies on federal visa applications violate federal laws. Those who help others fill out visa applications with false information–lawyers or not–face prosecution, Yates said.

According to Yates and information presented in court, from July 2005 through July 2008, Dixit conspired with others to obtain visas for his clients by submitting fraudulent applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Dixit’s clients did not qualify for lawful visa programs. He has been accused of submitting fraudulent information about the applicant’s prior employment, biographic data and the jobs purportedly available for the alien in the United States. He charged his clients higher than normal fees as he claimed he could obtain visas for the illegal alien clients.

Dixit was indicted on charges 28 counts of visa fraud, 42 counts of alien harboring for the purpose of private financial gain and one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Each charge of visa fraud carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Each charge of alien harboring carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.  The conspiracy count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.