A University of California insider and a California-based visa firm operator have admitted to running a sophisticated H-1B visa fraud scheme that lasted nearly three years, quietly exploiting one of the United States’ most competitive immigration pathways. The duo allegedly fabricated job roles, secured visa approvals, and later placed workers in unrelated companies.
Sampath Rajidi and Sreedhar Mada, both 51 and residents of Dublin in California’s East Bay, pleaded guilty this week to conspiracy to commit H-1B visa fraud. The announcement was made by the US Department of Justice on Friday.
Rajidi operated two companies—S-Team Software Inc and Uptrend Technologies LLC—focused on sourcing foreign workers and placing them with US employers through the H-1B visa program.
The scheme gained credibility due to Mada’s position within the University of California system. As Chief Information Officer at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources in Davis, he held a senior administrative role that added weight to the visa petitions, even though he lacked independent authority to hire H-1B workers without higher approval.
Between June 2020 and January 2023, the duo filed multiple fraudulent H-1B petitions claiming that candidates would be employed in roles at the University of California. However, investigators found that none of these positions actually existed. Once the visas were approved, the workers were redirected to unrelated private employers.
Federal prosecutors stated that the accused knowingly made material misrepresentations that influenced visa approvals, fully aware of the consequences.
Authorities noted that the fraud went beyond individual deception. The H-1B visa program operates through a lottery system with limited annual slots and high demand. By submitting false university-backed petitions, the accused unfairly increased their chances of approval, effectively taking opportunities away from legitimate applicants.
Both Rajidi and Mada are scheduled to appear before US District Judge Troy L. Nunley on July 30, 2026. Each faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant US Attorney Douglas Harman.
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