Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say a woman lured foreigners seeking work in the US with nonexistent jobs at her fake clinical research company and charged them unnecessary fees for visas.
Raina Massey, of Elmont, New York, is charged with wire fraud, visa fraud and aggravated identity theft.
She pleaded not guilty yesterday and was released on USD 150,000 bond.
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US Attorney Paul Fishman says Massey ran the scheme from February 2012 to March 2015 through her Newark-based shell company called Care Worldwide.
Fishman says she sought out professionals for fake jobs and charged them for visa applications that are free to fill out.
Instead of jobs in their field, some workers were forced to hand out fliers on corners.
Massey's lawyer says she looks forward to her day in court.
It was because of fear and confusion that she couldn't
muster up the courage to share the incident with her fellow tourists or police, the woman said.
"I felt that I was sleep walking and had no memory of the incidents. The accused kept on threatening me that they will kill me. I was in a foreign country for the first time. That's why I was not able to confide with my fellow group members as well as police," she said.
The main accused, a tour guide, was questioned by the police last week and told them that the victim gave them a positive feedback in the forms and even an internal inquiry conducted by the company on the basis of the victim's complaint didn't find them guilty.
"I don't know what the accused have said but I don't recall giving positive feedback in the forms. I am not aware of any internal inquiry by their company," she said.
Her first trip to a foreign country outside her own has left her scarred and she says that she won't be able to stay in any hotel now.
"I am very much scared of travelling outside the US after this incident. I don't think I can even stay in any hotel now because of this incident," she said.
But as she ends the interview, she affirms that she doesn't hate India and would like to come back here.
"My fascination with India hasn't changed. I am just very weary due to the situation but would like to visit India someday with someone," she said.
Mrityunjay Kumar, partner of Dhingra & Singh - Attorneys at Law firm, who is handling the case said, "She is willing to come down to India. She wants that the police should conduct a thorough and professional investigation in the matter and the accused should be convicted.
