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Indian-origin businessman faces denaturalization over H-1B fraud
The case is part of a broader DOJ effort targeting 17 naturalized citizens accused of serious crimes.
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Malvika Choudhary - Mon, 08, Jun 2026
- 14:00 EDT
- 146
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Representative image / canva
The U.S. Department of Justice has moved to revoke the citizenship of an Indian-origin businessman from New Jersey, alleging that he concealed his involvement in a fraudulent H-1B visa scheme while obtaining U.S. citizenship.
Neeraj Sharma, 50, a native of India and former chief executive officer of staffing company Magnavision LLC, is among 17 naturalized U.S. citizens targeted in a new round of denaturalization actions announced by the Justice Department on June 8.
Also Read: H-1B credential verification in focus after India fake degree probe
According to a civil complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Sharma signed and submitted 11 fraudulent H-1B visa petitions between April 2015 and April 2017.
Prosecutors allege the petitions falsely claimed that foreign workers would be employed by a global financial institution and included forged letters bearing executives' signatures.
The Justice Department said Sharma applied for naturalization in 2017 while the fraudulent conduct was ongoing. In his citizenship application and subsequent interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Sharma allegedly denied committing crimes for which he had not been arrested, providing false information to government officials, or lying to obtain immigration benefits.
USCIS approved Sharma's application, and he became a U.S. citizen in December 2017.
According to the complaint, Sharma later pleaded guilty to fraud and misuse of visas and was convicted in 2021 for conduct that occurred before he obtained citizenship.
Prosecutors argue that he was ineligible for naturalization because he lacked the required good moral character and secured citizenship through false testimony and concealment of material facts.
The government argued that USCIS would not have approved his application had it been aware of the underlying conduct.
The action against Sharma is part of a broader DOJ initiative targeting 17 naturalized citizens accused of offenses including sexual abuse of a minor, bank and wire fraud, immigration fraud, and illegal drug distribution.
"When criminal aliens exploit the naturalization process by breaking the law, there are consequences," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement announcing the cases.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, naturalized U.S. citizenship may be revoked if it was illegally procured or obtained through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation.
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