U.S. District Judge David Hittner sentenced Yali Huang, 44, a Houston immigration lawyer, July 13 to more than four years in prison and a fine of $10,000 July 13 for her role in a Chinese visa fraud scheme. The judge also ordered her to notify the Texas State Bar in writing of her conviction.
Huang was accused of committing fraud using two separate immigration programs. She forged documents for clients applying for extensions for temporary business visas, writing letters purportedly from Chinese companies, and in some cases, using a dummy corporation called Ultra Controls set up with her husband. She also was accused of participating in a green card fraud scheme that involved creating fake stock certificates and forging signatures.
Prosecutor Gregg Costa said it must have been difficult for Huang to come to the U.S. as an immigrant, learn English, graduate from law school and pass the bar exam. "She was realizing the American dream, and this is a sad case," he said.
Huang's co-conspirators Houston residents Ping Lee Cohen and her ex-husband Kenneth Cohen were also sentenced. The Cohens ran a company called Asia Access and charged up to $60,000 per client. She was sentenced to about a year in prison. Her ex-husband, Kenneth Cohen, 65, also was sentenced to three years probation. Judge David Hittner rendered a forfeiture judgment against the Cohens worth $271,000, identified as proceeds from the fraudulent applications.
Huang's assistant, Yongping Mary Liu, 49, also was convicted of one count of visa fraud and acquitted on four other counts at the February trial. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Both Huang and Liu, who are lawful permanent residents of the United States, are subject to deportation upon their release from prison. Ping Lee Cohen is a naturalized U.S. citizen. (Source: Susan Carroll, Houston Chronicle, Jul 13, 2007).