2 Indian origin men plead guilty in fake H-1B job scams in US
Updated: Apr 21st, 2026
Two Indian-origin men living in the United States have admitted to running a visa fraud scheme involving fake job offers. The case was revealed by the US Justice Department, and both accused now face serious punishment.
The men, Sampath Rajidi (51), and Sreedhar Mada (51), are residents of California. They pleaded guilty to misusing the H-1B visa system, which is meant for skilled foreign workers.
According to US Attorney Eric Grant, the duo created fake job opportunities linked to the University of California to help foreign nationals get work visas.
Rajidi owned two companies, S-Team Software Inc and Uptrend Technologies LLC, through which he applied for these visas. Mada, who worked as Chief Information Officer at the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources department, supported the scam by allowing his name and position to be used. This made the fake job offers look real and trustworthy.
Between 2020 and 2023, they submitted multiple false visa applications to USCIS. Officials later found that the jobs mentioned in the applications did not actually exist, and the workers never worked for the university. Instead, after getting the visas, these workers were sent to work for other private clients.
This fraud not only broke the law but also reduced the chances for genuine applicants who were trying to get H-1B visas honestly.
Both men could face up to five years in jail and a fine of $250,000. Their sentencing is scheduled for July 30, and the case will be heard by Judge Troy L Nunley.
