Indian-origin CEO faces loss of US citizenship over visa fraud case

The US Department of Justice has reportedly filed a denaturalization case against Neeraj Sharma (50), an Indian-origin businessman and former CEO of Magnavision Limited Liability Company (LLC). Sharma is among 17 naturalized Americans who may lose their US citizenship for allegedly obtaining it through fraud or false statements, as per reports. 

According to federal prosecutors, Sharma reportedly submitted 11 fraudulent H-1B visa applications between 2015 and 2017 through his New Jersey-based staffing company. The applications allegedly contained forged signatures and fake supporting documents.

Authorities claim the petitions falsely stated that foreign workers would be employed by a major global financial institution. Investigators later discovered that key information in the applications was fabricated, as per reports.

The Justice Department reportedly alleged  that Sharma gave false answers during his citizenship application process in 2017. He stated under oath that he had never committed an offense, provided false information to government officials, or lied to obtain immigration benefits, as per reports.

Despite these declarations, prosecutors argue that Sharma was already involved in the visa fraud scheme and failed to disclose information that could have affected his eligibility for US citizenship.

Sharma became a naturalized US citizen in December 2017. He was later convicted of visa fraud linked to the alleged scheme, prompting federal authorities to seek the revocation of his citizenship. The government argues that Sharma obtained citizenship through material misrepresentation and concealment of facts. As a result, it has asked a federal court to cancel his naturalized status, cited the reports.

The case is part of a larger Justice Department effort targeting 17 individuals accused of serious crimes, including immigration fraud, money laundering, wire fraud, and child exploitation offenses, as per reports. Officials describe the campaign as one of the largest denaturalization actions in recent US history.