Shrewsbury man charged with visa fraud

WORCESTER - A Brazilian man who lives in Shrewsbury has been charged in federal court with visa fraud for allegedly helping countrymen obtain seasonal work visas he knew they would overstay.

The U.S. attorney's office said a complaint unsealed Tuesday that 44-year-old Marcio Freitas was paid as much as $10,000 to obtain the visas, knowing there were no jobs at the landscaping company where he worked, and knowing that the Brazilians who paid him intended to remain in the U.S. after their temporary work visas expired.

He is charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud dating to 2003.

Freitas' attorney tells The Boston Globe his client denies any wrongdoing and he had no authority to petition on behalf of foreign workers. He said his employer asked him to recruit workers legally.