A Winnipeg man has been fined $19,000 for his part in an immigration scam that allowed dozens of Chinese citizens who never left home to claim permanent residency status in Canada.
Yong Guang Zhou, 42, pleaded guilty to misrepresenting or omitting material facts relevant to the administration of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act between 2011 and 2014.
“This whole scheme is an insult to lawful Canadians,” said Judge Dale Harvey.
Court heard the Canada Border Services Agency launched an investigation in late 2012 after learning 42 Chinese citizens who had attained permanent residency status lied to Citizenship and Immigration Canada about where they lived.
All 42 citizens had claimed residency at one of two Winnipeg homes Zhou owned to support “the illusion” they lived in Canada “when in fact, these individuals were mainly residing in China,” Crown attorney Erin Magas told court.