Telugu Duo Admits H‑1B Visa Fraud in California

Hyderabad: Two Telugu men living in California have pleaded guilty to conspiracy in an H‑1B visa fraud case, the United States department of justice said. Sampath Rajidi and Sreedhar Mada, both 51 and residents of Dublin, admitted to submitting false information to secure work visas for foreign nationals.

Federal prosecutors stated that the fraud ran for nearly three years, between June 2020 and January 2023. During this period, the duo filed multiple petitions claiming that foreign workers would be employed at the University of California. Investigators found that the jobs listed did not exist.

Court documents revealed that Sampath operated two visa services firms — S‑Team Software Inc. and Uptrend Technologies LLC — to process applications. Sreedhar, serving as chief information officer at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, allegedly lent credibility to the claims by using his designation, though he lacked authority to hire H‑1B workers.

Officials said both men knew the positions were fictitious. Once visas were approved, workers were diverted to private clients instead of the university, giving the accused an unfair edge over legitimate employers and reducing opportunities for genuine applicants.

The two now face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 (over ₹2.3 crore). Sentencing is scheduled for July 30, in a federal court.

Community sources in California described Sampath as a well‑known realtor and philanthropist, active in several Telugu organisations. “He was an active member of multiple Telugu associations across the state. Alongside his tech ventures, he worked as a realtor in Dublin,” said a member of a Telugu Association.

US authorities noted that the case forms part of a wider crackdown on misuse of the H‑1B visa programme, which is intended to help companies recruit skilled foreign workers for specialised roles.