The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that a federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment against a Brooklyn man, Arleigh Louison.

According to the indictment, false statements were made in connection with petitions filed under the Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”). It is alleged that Mr. Louison submitted false statements to USCIS claiming that petitioners were victims of abuse. The statements were made so that the petitioners could secure employment authorization documents that would allow them to work in the United States.

Assistant U.S. attorney Nikloas Kerest represent the United States in the matter and the official press release can be found here.

The VAWA seeks to improve criminal justice and community-based responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

Under the VAWA, a person may be eligible to become a lawful permanent resident (LPR) if they are the victim of battery or extreme cruelty committed by a

1. U.S. citizen spouse or former spouse
2. U.S. citizen parent
3. U.S. citizen son or daughter
4. LPR spouse or former spouse or an
5. LPR parent.

The Violence Against Women Act was passed in 1994 and in March 2019, H. R. 1585 was introduced to reauthorize the Act. The Bill passed the House in April 2019 and is currently in the Senate.