The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), along with multiple U.S. federal agencies, has dismantled a long-running immigration scam orchestrated by two Pakistani-origin men based in Texas. According to the indictment unsealed this week, Abdul Hadi Murshid (39) and Muhammad Salman Nasir (35) operated a sophisticated visa fraud enterprise through a law firm and a shell business entity, falsely promising employment opportunities to foreign nationals to facilitate fraudulent visa and green card approvals.
The law firm involved was identified as Law Offices of D. Robert Jones PLLC, while the associated business front was Reliable Ventures, Inc. Both entities were allegedly used as instruments in the scheme to create fake job openings and forge documents that satisfied the requirements of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
“This takedown underscores our unwavering commitment to uphold the integrity of the U.S. immigration system,” said FBI Director Kash Patel, who praised the collaborative effort led by FBI Dallas and its partner agencies. “These defendants allegedly gamed our legal framework for personal profit at the expense of our national security.”
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How the Scam Operated: Fake Jobs, Fake Payroll, Real Green Cards
The indictment lays out a step-by-step breakdown of the immigration fraud:
- Fake Job Advertisements:
The defendants published classified ads for non-existent job openings, mainly to satisfy the DOL’s labor certification criteria under EB-2, EB-3, and H-1B visa categories. - Visa Petitions and Labor Certifications:
Once the fake job listings generated the necessary documentation, they submitted visa petitions to USCIS, accompanied by labor certifications. - Green Card Applications:
Along with the visa applications, the defendants also filed for legal permanent residence (green cards) on behalf of the applicants. - Payroll Manipulation:
To make the fraudulent jobs appear legitimate, they required visa seekers to pay large sums upfront, a portion of which was returned to them as “payroll,” creating the illusion of genuine employment.
This elaborate system allowed foreign nationals to obtain U.S. work visas and permanent residency, despite never being employed in the advertised roles. Payments were made in exchange for petition filings, and the defendants profited heavily from the illegal scheme.
International Reach, Domestic Fallout: Agencies Unite to Dismantle the Fraud
While Murshid and Nasir were based in Texas, the scam’s reach extended far beyond U.S. borders. The FBI labeled the case as an international criminal operation, involving foreign nationals across multiple countries who were misled or complicit in obtaining fraudulent immigration benefits.
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock emphasized the broader implications:
“These laws are necessary to protect national security and safeguard the lawful immigration process. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will hold any individual accountable who misuses their position of trust for personal profit.”
The investigation involved a multi-agency task force, including:
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS)
- U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG)
Authorities are continuing to investigate whether additional individuals or visa recipients knowingly participated in the fraud. The scope of the investigation may widen, as the FBI tracks the financial transactions and visa application trail left behind by the accused.
If convicted, Murshid and Nasir could face significant prison terms, financial penalties, and asset forfeitures under federal immigration and fraud statutes.