Qi Wang, a 53-year-old man born in China who came to Canada in 2003, has been handed a conditional sentence of two years less a day and more than $300,000 in fines for immigration and tax offences. The crimes spanned several years and moved from Saskatchewan to British Columbia.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Wang pleaded guilty to four offences and was sentenced by Justice Catherine Dawson in Regina's Court of King's Bench on Wednesday. Two of the charges fall under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and two under the Income Tax Act. These are not Criminal Code offences.
An agreed statement of facts reveals Wang was convicted for representing foreign nationals in immigration matters without authorization and for submitting immigration applications with job offers that did not exist.
Investigation and Evidence
In 2012, an integrity officer with the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) reported suspicions to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) that Wang was representing Chinese nationals in SINP applications. CBSA investigators searched garbage obtained outside Wang's then-residence in White City, Sask., seizing documents including completed immigration applications, job offers, and receipts for “immigration services” paid by Chinese nationals.
Bank account analysis showed Wang received payments from Chinese nationals as far back as 2007 and paid around $95,000 to 17 Saskatchewan business owners. According to the facts, Wang compensated business owners for job offers. Some owners were surprised to learn how many offers were provided to SINP, as they did not need that many workers and did not ask for them.
Signatures on some documentation attributed to business owners were not their signatures, and email addresses on SINP documents were not their email addresses. “Some business owners had been assured by Wang that they would not have to actually employ the Chinese nationals who came to Canada if the jobs were no longer available,” the facts state.
Sentence and Conditions
For the immigration offences, Dawson accepted a joint recommendation from Crown and defence, imposing a conditional sentence of two years less a day. A conditional sentence is a jail sentence served in the community; a breach can result in custody. Wang's conditions are extensive, generally aimed at allowing authorities to monitor him and ensuring no further involvement with immigration matters. Dawson also imposed a fine of $200,000, payable in monthly instalments of $650.
Tax Evasion
Wang was also convicted for evading taxes by vastly underreporting his income for 2013 to 2015 and by not filing a return at all for 2016. The court heard he evaded tax on nearly half a million dollars of unreported income. The total fines imposed exceed $300,000, combining the immigration fine with penalties for tax evasion.
