The prosecution alleged that the firm, Alcala Law, created thousands of false visas for workers at Utah companies from July 2005 to June 2009, reports Attorney at Law.

Officials arrested attorney James Alcala, two of his partners, and five employees of Alcala Law Firm following an 18 month investigation.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security are believed to have evidence that the Alcala Law Firm filed more than 700 petitions that led to the issuance of more than 5,000 work visas.

The law firm is accused with creating the false paperwork so companies could get visas for immigrant laborers, according to U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman. Two unidentified companies are still being investigated as details are uncovered about how the visas were obtained. The status of those who received visas is also not known, although authorities think they must still be in the country.

Some of the illegal visas allowed foreigners to enter the country without taking a job. Others were working as painters, roofers and landscaping crews when their employers obtained the visas for them. Companies may not have known that the visas they received were bad, although some may have been aware that information was being fabricated.