DALLAS: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested two Pakistani-American residents of North Texas. The arrested individuals are identified as Abdul Hadi Murshid, 39, and Muhammad Salman Nasir, 35. Along with a well-known law firm and a business entity, they have been indicted on charges of visa fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act.
The announcement was made by Acting US Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Chad E Meacham, who said that both men are also accused of attempting to unlawfully obtain US citizenship.
According to the indictment, Murshid and Nasir, in collaboration with The Law Offices of D Robert Jones PLLC and Reliable Ventures Inc, placed false advertisements, offered fake jobs, and unlawfully exploited the EB-2, EB-3, and H-1B visa programs as part of a systematic scheme.
They allegedly published job ads for non-existent positions in newspapers to fulfil US Department of Labour requirements and then used the fraudulently obtained certifications to deceive immigration authorities.
It is further alleged that substantial sums of money were taken from foreign nationals seeking visas, a portion of which was returned to them as fake payroll in order to make the fictitious employment appear legitimate.
In this regard, sources say that further investigations are underway to determine who else they helped obtain such visas over the past seven years. Therefore, action may also be taken against several other individuals.
FBI Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said: “These individuals have been violating immigration laws for years. Our message is clear: anyone who abuses their position of trust for financial gain will not escape the law.”
Murshid and Nasir appeared before US Magistrate Judge Rebecca Rutherford on May 23, 2025. The government has filed a motion for their detention, with a hearing scheduled for May 30 before Judge Brian McKay.
If convicted, the defendants could face up to 20 years in prison. Abdul Hadi Murshid may also face revocation of his US citizenship.
The investigation was led by the FBI, with support from Homeland Security, USCIS, the State Department, and the Department of Labor. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorneys Ted Hocter, Tiffany Eggers, and Jongwoo Chung.
