City Attorney Charges Canadian Talent Consultant in Actor Immigration Visa Scam

LOS ANGELES – A Canadian national, Andrew Boryski, was charged with multiple criminal counts for cheating aspiring actors out of thousands of dollars in an immigration visa scam.
 
“We will hold accountable charlatans who pray upon the career aspirations of others,” said City Attorney Carmen Trutanich. “People who come to Los Angeles to work must be aware that it is illegal for immigration consultants to provide legal advice. Before paying them a penny, they should contact the appropriate agency and verify the consultant’s credentials.”
 
Andrew Boryski, 26, who operated a Los Angeles-area immigration consulting business that sought visas on behalf of aspiring foreign actors, is charged with 32 misdemeanor counts, including three counts of grand theft, one count of practicing law without a license, and 28 counts of violating provisions of the Immigration Consultant Act. If convicted, Boryski could face up to one year in jail for each count.
 
The Saskatchewan native, who now resides in Los Angeles, was arrested Wednesday by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) at Los Angeles International Airport as he prepared to board a flight bound for Canada.
 
After receiving several complaints about Boryski, the City Attorney’s Office sought HIS’s assistance in investigating the case. Coincidentally, HIS had also received a lead about Boryski’s possible involvement in immigration fraud from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (CIS) Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS). The ensuing joint investigation revealed Boryski advertised over the Internet and presented himself at actors’ seminars as an immigration consultant who could help, aspiring foreign actors obtain a visa so they could find work in the United States entertainment industry. Three complaining foreign witnesses, two from Australia and one from Ireland, allege Boryski charged them approximately $5,000 each to assist them in procuring an O-1 visa.
 
“This suspect, who’s an aspiring actor himself, has landed a role in a real life crime drama,” said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles.  “The fraud perpetrated by unscrupulous consultants who prey on innocent victims undermines the integrity of our nation’s legal immigration system and ultimately hurts us all. Homeland Security Investigations will continue to work tirelessly with its federal and local partners to ensure these scam artists don’t succeed.”
 
Unbeknownst to the victims, the O-1 visa is intended for established persons in the entertainment industry with work pending in the United States – not for newcomers to the business without actual employment, as was the case with the victims.  HSI special agents determined Boryski never filed any paperwork on behalf of the victims and failed to follow through on repeated promises to refund the victims’ money. Investigators found Boryski did not file an immigration consultant bond with the Secretary of State, or comply with other regulations, and was not licensed to practice law in California.
 
SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White praised the City Attorney's office saying, “We applaud the efforts of Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and Deputy City Attorney Mark Lambert to protect actors from unscrupulous business practices that attempt to separate them from their money.  Performers from all jurisdictions should be able to pursue their dreams in the entertainment industry without fear of abuse and harm.  SAG-AFTRA certainly welcomes the zero tolerance policy clearly demonstrated by the City Attorney’s Office in such cases.”
 
SAG-AFTRA General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland advised performers to be wary and inform themselves saying, "Immigration service scams can have devastating consequences for any performer. All performers should take an active part in their own protection by practicing due diligence and getting educated about the rules and process for work visas.”  More information can be found on the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services website at http://www.uscis.gov/avoidscams.
 
HSI’s probe into Boryski’s activities is ongoing. Investigators believe there may be additional unidentified victims. Anyone with relevant information should contact ICE’s toll-free tip line at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or visit http://www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp. Tips may be reported anonymously.   
 
Deputy City Attorney Mark Lambert is prosecuting the case.

Download a PDF of the release here.