In a significant law enforcement operation, Abdul Hadi Murshid, 39, and Muhammad Salman Nasir, 35, both Texas residents and Pakistani nationals, have been indicted on a series of federal charges. The indictment, which was unveiled on May 23, 2025, accuses the pair of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., visa fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and engaging in a Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) conspiracy. Additionally, both individuals are charged with unlawfully obtaining and attempting to obtain U.S. citizenship.
According to the Department of Justice, Murshid and Nasir, in collaboration with two business entities, the Law Offices of D. Robert Jones PLLC and Reliable Ventures, Inc., allegedly participated in a comprehensive visa fraud scheme. This operation allegedly allowed numerous individuals to fraudulently obtain immigration status within the United States. The indictment specifies that the defendants submitted false visa applications for "visa seekers" and then filed applications to adjust their immigration status to legal permanent residence.
The Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham described the defendants’ conduct as a wide-ranging, multi-year fraud that resulted in considerable personal financial gain. Meacham emphasized the importance of prosecuting such egregious violations of immigration law, highlighting it as a top priority for the justice system.
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock portrayed the defendants as orchestrators of an international criminal enterprise that operated for years. Rothrock stressed that these actions not only undermine national security but also the integrity of the lawful immigration process. The indictment alleges that the defendants exploited EB-2, EB-3, and H-1B visa programs by placing fake job advertisements in daily periodicals to meet the Department of Labor's requirements for offering jobs to U.S. citizens first.
These advertisements were a mere formality to satisfy Department of Labor rules, after which the defendants obtained certifications allowing them to petition for immigrant visas. Through this fraudulent process, the visa seekers could also apply for green cards. To simulate legitimate employment, the defendants are accused of taking money from visa seekers and cycling part of it back to them as sham payroll payments.
Murshid and Nasir made their initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rebecca Rutherford, with detention hearings scheduled for May 30, 2025, before Magistrate Judge Brian McKay. As the legal process unfolds, it is crucial to remember that an indictment is only an accusation and that the accused parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, each defendant could face up to 20 years in federal prison. Additionally, Murshid could lose his U.S. citizenship if found guilty of unlawfully obtaining it.
The FBI led the investigation with substantial support from the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ted Hocter, Tiffany H. Eggers, and Jongwoo Chung are in charge of the prosecution.
This case has drawn significant attention on social media, with FBI Director Kash Patel tweeting, "Well done to our FBI teams and…" in recognition of the arrests. The tweet underscores the importance of the FBI's role in upholding immigration laws and ensuring the integrity of the United States' immigration system.
