4 Indian-Americans charged with H-1B visa fraud in US

Washington: Four Indian-Americans in the US, including a couple from Silicon Valley, have been charged with conspiracy to commit H-1B visa fraud, among other offences, federal prosecutors have said.

The couple -- Sunitha Guntipally, Venkat Guntipally - along with two others Pratap "Bob" Kondamoori and Sandhya Ramireddi have been charged in a 33-count indictment filed last week alleging crimes in connection with the submission of fraudulent applications for H-1B specialty-occupation work visas.

According to the indictment, the four defendants allegedly used three California corporations to orchestrate the improper submission of more than one hundred H-1B visa applications.

In a statement, the US Attorney's Office Northern District of California said the husband and wife team of Venkat and Sunitha from the Silicon Valley founded and owned DS Soft Tech and Equinett, two employment-staffing companies for technology firms.

Venkat served as the president and Sunitha as the vice president of both companies.

Kondamoori, of Nevada is alleged to be the founder and owner of SISL Networks and Kondamoori's sister, Ramireddy of Pleasanton is alleged to have been the human resources manager and operations manager of all three companies.

All four defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud, false statements, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering and aiding and abetting these offences, the statement said.