Nine people have been charged with engaging in what federal authorities in New Jersey are calling widespread visa fraud.

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U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman says eight people were arrested Tuesday, while the remaining suspect is still being sought.

The arrests came after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents executed three search warrants at schools in Iselin and Jersey City. The defendants face charges relating to visa fraud and conspiracy to conceal illegal aliens.

Prosecutors says some of the defendants used organizations certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to recruit foreign nationals and charge them paperwork and document fees without verifying any information.

The alleged scheme operated out of the Iselin-based Vision Career Consultants USA and the American Health and Technology Institute, formerly known as the PC Tech Learning Center LLC.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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