Visa hopes dashed
Woman fined $130,000 for fake job letter
ACorporate Area woman whose chances of getting a United States visa went up in smoke was fined $130,000 for presenting the Embassy in Kingston with a fake job letter.
The defendant, Cristal Phillips, pleaded guilty to forgery, conspiracy and uttering forged documents when she appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Thursday. The court heard that a job letter was falsified to state that Phillips was a registered nurse at a nursing home within the Corporate Area.
“Your Honour, I was referred by a friend to an [immigration] agency, but I never know that it was a fraud business. I work at the Golden Age Home, but not in the capacity they put on the letter,” Phillips shared, adding that she became aware of the incorrect information after attending the embassy for her interview.
Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque was empathetic with Phillips and expressed the view that it was becoming a common explanation by defendants that they are receiving fake documents from immigration agencies.
Phillips was fined $70,000 or nine months’ imprisonment for the charge of forgery and for uttering forged documents, she was fined $60,000 or six months’ imprisonment.
On the count of conspiracy, the judge made Phillips the subject of a probation order for 18 months.
“I have to ensure the international security standards are upheld, this happened at the embassy. You realise how difficult it is for people to go to the embassy to get a visa. There is no way in good conscience I could not have this conviction recorded against you,” said Cole-Montaque.
“So now, the chances of the visa gone as I am making you the subject of a fingerprint order. Hush,” the judge said after imposing the sentence.