Health Carousel, based in Norwood, has reached a settlement with federal prosecutors in a case involving civil and criminal investigations into its visa-sponsorship program. The company has agreed to pay a $9.3 million penalty and allocate an additional $8 million for health care projects related to the matter.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio, Health Carousel was accused of submitting false visa immigrant applications and providing fraudulent job placement letters to expedite visa approvals for international nurses and other health care professionals. The investigations were carried out by agents from Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and other government agencies.
CEO John Sebastian acknowledged the company’s past misconduct in its visa operations and stated that corrective actions were taken. He emphasized Health Carousel’s commitment to ethical standards and expressed gratitude for the resolution of the investigation.
As part of the settlement, Health Carousel has implemented extensive remedial measures to address compliance issues and committed to contributing $8 million towards various health care initiatives. The company will donate funds to support ethical recruitment of health care professionals, improve health care access in developing countries, and assist underserved communities in the U.S. and abroad.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker highlighted the importance of holding companies accountable for immigration law violations and ensuring financial accountability in cases like this. Homeland Security Investigations emphasized the need for strict adherence to rules in recruiting workers to the United States, particularly in the medical field.
The resolution of this case marks a significant step towards enhancing health care access and addressing compliance issues within the industry. Health Carousel’s commitment to rectifying past misconduct and contributing to positive initiatives reflects a step in the right direction for the company’s ethical standards and community support.
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