Samuel G. Kooritsky, an immigration lawyer in the Washington, DC area, was sentenced this week to 10 years in prison for convictions of conspiracy, labor certification fraud, making false statements, immigration fraud and money laundering. He was also ordered to pay restitution to his victims and to forfeit $2.3 million in unlawful proceeds to the United States. Kooritsky was also convicted of 57 felony violations of federal law.

Kooritsky is the owner of Capital Law Centers in Arlington, Virginia; Langley Park, Maryland; and Washigton, D.C. He and his associates were convicted for filing fraudulent applications for immigrant employment certification with the United States Department of Labor on behalf of Northern Virginia businesses and local immigrants. He falsely held these businesses out as not being able to find U.S. citizens to fill the offered positions. Consequently, his clients' applications could be approved allowing them to live and work in the United States. Kooritsky charged each client between $7,000 and $20,000.

According to a letter from the Department of Justice, the following are the guidelines on how the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services will handle cases filed by Kooritsky:

1.                  Blanket deferred action status will not be considered in these cases. Requests may be made on an individual basis as in all other cases.

2.                  The applications/petitions will be reviewed on a case-by case basis with no presumption of fraud. The burden of proof is on the Service to prove fraud and obviously all denials will retain appeal rights.

3.                  When applications are reviewed, the legitimate applicants will be routed to the appropriate office for adjudication.

4.                  Orders of Supervision will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis within existing guidelines. Blanket orders of Supervision will not be considered.

This is one of the largest labor certification fraud cases ever prosecuted. Mr. Kooritzky filed over 2,700 bogus applications with the Department of Labor and the Immigration and Naturalization Service in the space of 18 months. Kooritsky will not appeal. An extortion case is still pending against him.