EDMONTON – An Edmonton man has pleaded guilty to immigration fraud and was given a two-year conditional sentence.
Canada Border Services Agency began investigating in October 2009 after receiving a complaint that deceased person’s signature had been forged for immigration purposes.
The agency says its investigation revealed an elaborate immigration fraud in an attempt to bring foreign workers to Canada.
Court heard Paul Gestano McKenney helped foreign workers with their applications to come to Canada and charged them for his services.
He forged the Labour Market Opinion applications for the purpose of getting his clients into Canada as temporary foreign workers.
Two foreign workers fell victim to this scheme and travelled to Canada from the Philippines, only to be refused entry into Canada.
Court heard McKenney was not a licensed representative, and not authorized to provide these services.
His sentence includes six months of house arrest, 18 months curfew and must do 200 hours of community service.
“It is thanks to the initial tip and the ongoing diligence of CBSA investigators that we were able to end this elaborate scheme and help bring justice to the innocent victims,” Lauren Delgaty, regional director general of the border services’ Prairie region, said in a news release.
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