On Wednesday, May 15, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, announced that a resident of Erie, Pennsylvania man, has been sentenced in federal court for visa fraud and false statements.
Daniel Cabanillas, 49, was sentenced in federal court to 2 years’ probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
Damnnn Daniel (LOL)
Daniel was the Designated School Official for the Student Exchange Visitor Program at Mercyhurst University until he was terminated on February 19, 2015. While Daniel was employed as the Designated School Official, he knowingly made materially false statements on various Form I-20, Certificates of Eligibility for Non-immigrant (F-1) Student Status, subscribing to as true, the false certification of a person’s acceptance status at the university.
A false Form I-20 was then used by an individual to obtain a student visa, which allowed entry into the United States. The court was advised that Daniel falsified acceptance documents for dozens of other students in connection with his work as the Designated School Official.
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady stated:
“The Student Exchange and Visitor Program relies on the honesty and integrity of Designated School Officials to truthfully certify to the information contained in Visa application documents, and when DSO’s provide or certify false information, our system of lawful immigration into the United States for educational purposes is frustrated.”
