Four more sentences in largest immigration fraud case in B.C.’s history

THE Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Criminal Investigations sections on Friday announced an additional sentence related to the New Can Consultants Ltd. and Wellong International Investments Ltd. immigration fraud case.

On September 12, Zheng Wen Ye was sentenced to pay a total of $94,532 in fines and a conditional sentence of two years less a day after pleading guilty to charges under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Income Tax Act.  These charges are the result of a joint effort between the CBSA and the CRA. As an unlicensed immigration consultant working for New Can Consultants Ltd. and Wellong International Investments Ltd., Ye was involved in passport fraud and misrepresentation offences. Ye also failed to report income of $225,113 between 2007 and 2011, thereby evading $42,719 in federal income tax payable.

In addition to the sentence announced this week, three additional cases concluded this summer.

On August 29, Tian “Gary” Chen was sentenced to a conditional sentence of six months less a day and 40 hours of community service for counselling misrepresentation under the IRPA in New Westminster Provincial Court. Chen was an unlicensed consultant with New Can Consultants Ltd. and was responsible for providing false addresses and phone numbers to clients so they could maintain the appearance of residency in Canada while living outside of the country.

On August 10, Xiao Ben “Ben” Chu, another unlicensed consultant working for New Can Consultants Ltd., Wellong International Investments Ltd. and ABS Consulting Ltd., was sentenced to a 12-month conditional sentence order in Vancouver Provincial Court for counselling misrepresentation under the IRPA. The multiple conditions imposed in Chu’s conditional sentence order included house arrest, curfew and 40 hours of community service. Chu counselled clients to misrepresent facts, namely residency histories on their immigration applications.

On July 6, Che Fang pleaded guilty to misrepresentation under the IRPA in Vancouver Provincial Court. Fang was sentenced to a fine of $50,000. Fang hired New Can Consultants Ltd. to help him apply for permanent resident status. As part of the immigration fraud services that the company offered, Fang became an “employee” of New Can Consultants Ltd. and received pay cheques and annual T4’s. However, in reality he paid his own salary to create the appearance that he was working for the company.

To date, eight people have been sentenced for their role in the single largest immigration fraud case in British Columbia.

Harald M. Wuigk, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigations Section, CBSA, said: “These investigations and successful sentences demonstrate the Canada Border Services Agency’s commitment to prosecuting individuals who abuse our immigration system. We continue to investigate any case of alleged offences under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and are dedicated to upholding the integrity of our immigration system.”

Elvis Dutra, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigations, CRA, said: “The CRA works closely with other law enforcement agencies and departments, including the CBSA, to help maintain the integrity of the tax system. Tax evasion costs all of us. This sentence is a reflection of the valuable work done by our staff to ‎ensure that, without exception, all Canadians abide by the same tax laws.”‎

 

Quick Facts 

  • The Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) Inland Enforcement Section has identified over 1,600 suspected clients of New Can Consultants Ltd.
  • To date, over 770 of these clients have either lost their status or been reported for inadmissibility under the IRPA. Other cases remain under investigation.
  • The CBSA takes this issue very seriously and works closely with its partners, including Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, to identify, investigate and prosecute those engaging in immigration fraud to the full extent of the law.
  • If you have information about suspicious cross border or immigration activity, contact the Canada Border Services Agency Border Watch toll-free Line at 1-888-502-9060 within the United States and Canada.
  • The CRA’s Criminal Investigations Program investigates suspected cases of tax evasion, fraud and other violations of Canadian tax laws and, where appropriate, refers them to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
  • If you have information about tax evasion, please contact the CRA National Informant Leads Centre toll free line at 1-866-809-6841.

 

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