Sampath Rajidi and Sreedhar Mada, both residents of Dublin, pleaded guilty on April 17 to conspiracy to commit visa fraud, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
The case highlights concerns about the misuse of the H-1B visa program and its impact on fair competition for employment-based visas. Authorities say fraudulent petitions can reduce opportunities for legitimate applicants and undermine trust in the system.
Court documents show that Rajidi operated two companies, S-Team Software Inc. and Uptrend Technologies LLC, which filed H-1B visa petitions claiming foreign workers would be employed at the University of California. Mada was Chief Information Officer at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) in Davis. While Mada had supervisory authority, he could not hire H-1B workers without further approval.
Between June 2020 and January 2023, Rajidi and Mada submitted fraudulent petitions stating that beneficiaries would work on university projects. Both men knew these positions did not exist; instead, they marketed the beneficiaries elsewhere after securing visas under false pretenses. "Rajidi falsely represented that beneficiaries would be employed at positions working for the University of California," Grant said. "Mada lent his name and the credibility of his position as Chief Information Officer ... to bolster the false assertion." The investigation is being conducted by several federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations.
Rajidi and Mada are scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on July 30, facing up to five years in prison each along with a $250,000 fine.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California enforces federal laws through criminal prosecutions and civil litigation according to its official website. The office operates under the Department of Justice with branches in Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield across a region covering more than 87,000 square miles in 34 counties according to its official website.
