Georgian and US authorities dismantle organised immigration fraud networks

Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office has arrested three individuals and initiated criminal proceedings against six others for defrauding citizens of large sums of money, facilitating the illegal stay of Georgian citizens abroad, organizing the submission of false information in asylum applications, and producing and distributing forged official documents.

Speaking at a briefing on Tuesday, Tbilisi Prosecutor Giorgi Mikaia said that a joint operation conducted by the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office and the Regional Security Office of the United States Embassy uncovered two organized criminal groups involved in immigration-related fraud schemes.

According to the investigation, four Georgian citizens formed an organized criminal group following the tightening of US immigration policies, which made crossing the US border increasingly difficult. The suspects targeted Georgian citizens seeking asylum in the United States, promising to create asylum “cases”, gather supporting evidence, and provide legal assistance throughout court proceedings.

Investigators identified 366 Georgian citizens who sought assistance from members of the criminal organization in applying for asylum in the United States.

The group fabricated stories claiming that asylum seekers had been persecuted in Georgia for various reasons, including political opinions and sexual orientation. To support these false claims, the suspects allegedly produced forged documents and charged substantial fees. Clients were required to pay between $1,000 and $1,500 for the preparation of a false asylum case, $3,000 for forged supporting documentation, and an additional $6,000 to $8,000 for legal representation and assistance in obtaining asylum.

The investigation also found that two members of the group promised assistance to Georgian nationals held in US immigration detention facilities. In four documented cases, the suspects allegedly obtained $10,000 from detainees and their families without providing any actual assistance.

Additionally, members of the organization offered services to help Georgian citizens obtain Canadian visas. During an undercover operation conducted by the Tbilisi Prosecutor’s Office, one suspect allegedly produced a forged bank statement, false employment documentation claiming employment in the United States, and other fraudulent documents in exchange for $800.

Authorities also uncovered a second organized criminal group that assisted individuals in obtaining US visas using forged documents. The suspects advertised their services through social media platforms, offering assistance with US visa applications and promising that payment would only be required after a visa was successfully issued.

Investigators found that the group prepared and supplied forged official documents to 65 Georgian citizens for submission to the U.S. Embassy. Some applicants successfully obtained visas using the fraudulent documents and subsequently paid the group a total of $112,000.

After the US Embassy verified a portion of the submitted documentation and identified irregularities, the fraudulent scheme was exposed, resulting in the cancellation of all visas issued with the assistance of the criminal group.

Between January 2025 and February 2026, members of the second organization allegedly received financial benefits totaling $142,786.43, GEL 15,095, and EUR 1,560 through the use of forged documents.

The suspects have been charged under several provisions of Georgia’s Criminal Code, including facilitating the illegal stay of Georgian citizens abroad for financial gain, organizing the submission of knowingly false information in applications for international protection, large-scale fraud committed by an organized group, and the production and distribution of forged official documents.

The offenses carry a maximum penalty of up to nine years’ imprisonment.

The Prosecutor’s Office stated that it will request pre-trial detention measures for all nine defendants within the timeframe established by law. The investigation remains ongoing, including efforts to identify additional individuals involved in the schemes and other related criminal episodes.