EDMONTON – The Canada Border Services Agency has laid four charges against a woman who allegedly provided forged documents to clients while acting as an unauthorized immigration consultant.
Janet Chen Macaulay faces two offences under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and two offences under the Criminal Code.
“Immigration fraud is a criminal offence in Canada,” said Kim Scoville, acting regional director general with CBSA’s Prairie Region. “Crooked consultants pose a challenge to the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. The CBSA is taking action to combat this fraud, and to identify, investigate and prosecute the perpetrators.”
The CBSA received a complaint against Macaulay in 2011.
The investigation found that Macaulay was not an authorized immigration consultant, but was paid to work on up to 190 work permit applications and 10 permanent residence applications.
The CBSA discovered she was paid to complete and submit these applications, but never did. Instead, it is alleged that she gave her clients forged government documents.
In one case, Macaulay allegedly provided a client with a fraudulent letter stating they were authorized to work while awaiting a work permit, when they actually were not. Most of the work permits were approved.
It is believed the alleged frauds took place between 2006 and 2012 in Edmonton.
Macaulay is expected to appear in Edmonton Provincial Court on August 28, 2014.
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