A federal judge in Boston sentenced the owner of Zippi Help LLC, a Myrtle Beach, SC-based temporary staffing company, to three years of probation, the first year to be served in home confinement, forfeiture of $37,000 and a fine of $4,000, the US Department of Justice announced. The sentencing was in connection to a multi-year visa fraud conspiracy that placed unauthorized foreign workers at multiple Cape Cod businesses, according to the department.

The owner, Mavadene Thomas, pleaded guilty in June 2016 to one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud and one count of encouraging and inducing illegal immigration for private financial gain.

According to the DOL, Zippi Help had staffing contracts with businesses — primarily in the service and hospitality industry — for which it provided temporary and seasonal workers. From 2011 through 2014, the company secured H-2B visas for numerous foreign workers by submitting fraudulent visa petitions on behalf of several Cape Cod area businesses. The petitioning businesses often were unaware Zippi Help had applied for H-2B visas on their behalf. As part of the fraud, Thomas also created fake companies solely to be able to petition for the foreign worker visas.

Among the false statements Thomas included in her H-2B filings were misrepresentations about the details of the petitioning business, the efforts made by the business to recruit American workers, the number of employment vacancies available and the type of work to be completed, according to the department. She also created and submitted false tax returns and other business documentation in support of the H-2B petitions.

“This joint investigation with our law enforcement partners uncovered a fraudulent scheme that manipulated the H-2B visa process and took advantage of visa beneficiaries and US businesses,” said David Hall, special agent in charge of the US Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service, Boston field office.