An IMGW.News Report:
Brijesh Mishra, an Indian immigration agent, has been sentenced to three years in prison by a Vancouver court for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that issued fake college acceptance letters to Indian students seeking Canadian visas. Mishra, aged 37, was apprehended following a comprehensive investigation by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), which uncovered his involvement in providing counterfeit acceptance letters to prospective international students from India between 2016 and 2020.
Appearing in court dressed in a red jumpsuit, Mishra expressed remorse for his actions, which contravened Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. He entered a guilty plea to three charges, including misrepresentation and the dissemination of false information. The judge concurred with the joint sentencing proposal submitted by both Crown and defence counsel, which recommended a three-year custodial sentence. With time served since his June 2023 arrest, Mishra is slated to spend an additional 19 months in prison.
The CBSA investigation revealed that Mishra preyed on students from predominantly modest backgrounds in Punjab, India. He assured them of admission to Canadian educational institutions in return for fees covering applications, tuition, immigration, and consultancy services. Upon their arrival in Canada, these students were dismayed to discover that their admissions were fictitious. The transactions were primarily conducted in cash, often without receipts, thereby obfuscating the financial trail.
Post-incarceration, Mishra faces deportation to India, where he is subject to further criminal proceedings, including a charge of human smuggling, which carries a maximum penalty of death.
The CBSA has affirmed its commitment to identifying and assisting all potential victims of Mishra and associated fraudsters. The agency’s ongoing efforts aim to support genuine students in completing their education in Canada.