Israeli man sentenced for human smuggling, money laundering in Virginia, Maryland
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) — The United States Attorney’s Office said an Israeli national was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to launder money and smuggle noncitizens into the United States.
According to court documents, 39-year-old Shai Cohen organized and worked with others to bring Israeli citizens to the U.S. illegally.
Cohen and his fellow conspirators helped the noncitizens get visas by “misrepresenting the true purpose of their travel to the United States.” The noncitizens instead sought illegal employment in the U.S.
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According to court documents, the noncitizens worked at several kiosks that Cohen and his co-conspirators owned and operated located in malls in Virginia and Maryland. The illegal noncitizens were primarily compensated by under-the-table cash payments or prepaid cards.
In total, the documents listed 25 unlawful foreign nationals.
In August of 2023, Cohen was extradited to the Eastern District of Virginia. He pleaded guilty on November 7, 2023.
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