3 women facing jail time after immigration fraud investigation in BC

Apr 19 2017, 4:49 pm

Pei Jia Li peeks through the doors after his hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board in Vancouver in November. He was ruled 'inadmissible to Canada' for having fraudulent entry and exit stamps in his passport. (Harold Dupuis/CBC )

Three woman have been sentenced to 18 months in jail in connection with the largest investigation of immigration fraud in BC’s history.

The sentences come after an investigation into the activities of two unlicensed immigration consulting businesses offering services in Metro Vancouver. Those two businesses were New Can Consultants Ltd. and Wellong International Investments Ltd.

The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) said Jin “Fanny” Ma, Ming Kun “Makkie” Wu and Wen “Vivian” Jiang were sentenced under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Income Tax Act and the Criminal Code for their part in large-scale immigration fraud.

Each had previously pleaded guilty to several charges, including representing on immigration matters without authority, passport offences, misrepresentation, forgery and tax evasion, the CBSA report said.

In addition to jail time, each woman was fined as well.  Ma received a $96,000 fine, Wu $50,000, and Jiang $74,000.

“Fraud impacts the integrity of Canada’s immigration system and will not be tolerated,” said Harald M. Wuigk, the assistant director of the CBSA’s criminal investigation section. “The sentencing… is a result of the CBSA’s commitment to prosecuting individuals that willingly break the law.”