CARL BENITO
Benito and son accused of employing unauthorized workers at 3 corporations
EX-MLA faces immigration fraud charges
A former Edmonton Tory MLA is facing a number of fraud-related charges for allegedly employing unauthorized foreign workers over a period of several months.
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on Tuesday charged 65-year-old Carlito Benito and his 25-year-old son Charles Benito for allegedly employing unauthorized foreign nationals at Triple Maple Leaf Canada Corporation, Helping Migrants Canadian Immigration Corporation and World Immigration Group Corporation from November 2015 to October 2016.
Carlito Benito, known more commonly as Carl Benito, served as the Alberta Progressive Conservative MLA for Edmonton-mill Woods in 2008. He ran and lost in 2012 as an independent.
The CBSA says as licensed immigration consultants, the Benitos counselled temporary foreign workers in Canada to apply for student permits despite there being no intention of them going to school.
“The CBSA takes this matter very seriously and works closely with our partners, including Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, to identify, investigate and prosecute those engaging in immigration fraud to profit from vulnerable individuals,” said Andrew Klatt, assistant director of the Criminal Investigations Section with CBSA in a news release.
CBSA says this was done to allow for workers to extend their status and allow them and their spouses to stay in Canada longer. The border agency added the Benitos and their associates also allegedly provided cash loans of up to $17,000 for individuals to meet the financial requirements to apply for the student permit.
Carlito and Charles Benito are slated to make their first court appearance Thursday in Edmonton.