UK conman admits to US visa fraud

By Matthew Chapman
BBC Radio 5 live Report

The British customers were tempted by the American dream

A Norfolk businessman faces up to ten years in a US jail after pleading guilty to forging the US visa applications of British families.

Michael Leggett pleaded guilty in a Florida court to two counts of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.

Mr Leggett is also facing a possible $250,000 (£125,000) fine.

A BBC investigation earlier this year revealed how Leggett had promised to set up 26 British families with a new life in America.

Selling the dream

Mr Leggett took an estimated $2.6m from the families to invest in property deals and get them business visas.

Michael Leggett accepted guilt in court

However, he failed to produce any visas and victims showed the 5 live Report evidence that he had forged signatures and other information on their application forms to the US Embassy in the UK.

Within days of the programme being broadcast in January, Mr Leggett attempted to leave his home near Orlando and return to the UK, but was arrested and charged with visa fraud.

Guilty pledge

Mr Leggett is a former double glazing salesman from Norwich and falsely claimed to be running a thriving business in Norfolk when he obtained a US business visa himself in 2003.

In fact, his company went into liquidation with £500,000 in debts and dozens of unhappy customers.

He created a company called Royal Development which sold the dream of living and working in Florida.

In return for an investment of up $250,000 each in his property company he claimed he could obtain a much sought after E2 business visa for his customers.

Mr Leggett admitted forging a dozen visa applications on behalf of investors during a court appearance on Friday.

On one visa form the address of an accountancy company turned out to be a dentist's surgery.

Some of the investors' money was spent on expensive cigars, lingerie and visits to a lap dancing club.

A date for sentencing has yet to be set.