Illegal US visa scheme busted

Authorities have arrested a man accused of running an illegal US visa scheme to smuggle people into the country.

Brazilian national Marcio Freitas, 44, is accused of using two American landscaping companies to sponsor his countrymen to come to the US, charging around US$10,000 per person.

Freitas allegedly began the scheme in 2003 when he convinced his Massachusetts-based employer, Hester Landscape, to sponsor Brazilian workers on H-2B temporary work visas. He did so with the knowledge that the Brazilians intended to remain in the US after their visas expired, according to prosecutors.

Hester Landscape owner Richard Hester said he had no knowledge of the scheme, claiming he had only asked Freitas for help finding workers.

Freitas claims he had no idea the visas would be used fraudulently, only providing details of the Brazilian workers to his employer.

Freitas, arrested on Friday, faces a detention hearing at the US District Court in Worcester on June 6.