Marcus Taslim, a 70-year-old resident of Folsom, has admitted to charges of visa fraud. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith made the announcement following Taslim's guilty plea.
Court documents reveal that in December 2018, Taslim brought an individual referred to as Person 1 from Indonesia to the United States under false pretenses. He obtained a nonimmigrant visa for her by making false statements to a consular officer about her intended length of stay and employment conditions. Taslim falsely claimed that Person 1 would remain in the country for only one month, receive minimum and overtime wages according to California laws, be paid bi-weekly and in full, and had been paid her first month's salary in advance.
However, it was later discovered that these claims were untrue. After providing proof of payment to the consular officer, Taslim instructed Person 1 to return the money he had given her as an advance salary. Once she arrived in the United States, Person 1 worked for approximately six months under harsh conditions—often seven days a week from early morning until late evening—without receiving minimum wage or regular payments. Additionally, Taslim confiscated her passport to prevent her from leaving. It was only with assistance from the Folsom Police Department that Person 1 managed to leave in June 2019.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong following an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service’s San Francisco Field Office.
Taslim's sentencing is set for May 12, 2025, before U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb. He could face up to ten years in prison and a fine reaching $250,000; however, the final sentence will depend on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines considered by the court.