New Jersey man convicted of US visa scheme for Chinese government employees

A New Jersey man has been convicted of fraudulently acquiring U.S. visas for workers of the Chinese language authorities, the Justice Division introduced this week. 

Zhongsan Liu, 59, of Fort Lee, helped fraudulently receive J-1 analysis scholar visas for Chinese language authorities workers, in response to court docket paperwork and proof current at trial. 

The visas helped these workers unlawfully work in america for the Individuals’s Republic of China (PRC) with out notifying the U.S. authorities. 

Prosecutors stated Liu ran his operation out of an workplace of the China Affiliation for the Worldwide Change of Personnel (CAIEP) – a PRC authorities company – in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The CAIEP additionally engaged in recruiting U.S. scientists, lecturers, engineers, and different consultants to work in and for the good thing about the PRC, prosecutors stated. 

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The J-1 analysis scholar program permits international nationals to return to america for the aim of conducting analysis at a company analysis facility, museum, library, college, or different analysis establishment. 

Division of Justice
(iStock)

Prosecutors stated Liu helped a number of folks receive a J-1 analysis scholar visa beneath false pretenses, taking part in middleman between them and universities whereas concealing the true nature of their presence within the U.S. 

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Liu is convicted of 1 depend of conspiracy to defraud america and to commit visa fraud, which carries a most sentence of 5 years. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11. 

Travellers stroll at a terminal corridor of the Beijing Capital Worldwide Airport in Beijing, China March 23, 2022.
(REUTERS/Tingshu Wang)

The Biden administration stated final month it could be ending the DOJ’s “China Initiative” program that was aimed toward stopping spying by the Chinese language Communist Get together. 

The China Initiative was began in 2018 beneath the Trump administration to guard U.S. nationwide safety towards Chinese language spying on U.S. mental property and in educational and analysis settings. 

Fox Information’ Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.