Federal authorities say an indictment charges 12 people with operating a massive immigration fraud mill through a New York City law practice.
They say the defendants and their co-conspirators applied for legal status for tens of thousands of illegal immigrants based on bogus claims that U.S. employers had sponsored them.
They say the scheme took in millions of dollars in illicit proceeds.
It's part of an ongoing investigation. So far, 27 people have been charged.
The accused ringleader, Earl Seth David, was arrested Tuesday in Canada. He was suspended from practicing law in March 2004 and fled to Canada in 2006 after learning his firm was under investigation. Authorities say profits from the scheme continued to be funneled to him in Canada.
Prosecutors say David's law practice was based in Manhattan and operated several shell companies.