Southeast Missourian: Rep. Nathan Cooper pleads guilty to federal crime, resigns post

Rep. Nathan Cooper, R-Cape Girardeau has entered a guilty plea to federal felony charges of visa fraud and making false statements to the U.S. Department of Labor, according to an article written by Rudi Keller of the Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian:

Cooper, an attorney, waived an indictment and pleaded guilty to taking $50,000 in legal fees from clients in the trucking industry to provide visas for
seasonal workers in an industry that did not qualify for those visas.

"Cooper developed a scheme to convince the government to issue improper visas
and otherwise to impede the lawful operation of the H2B visa program in a number
of ways," a release issued by the U.S. attorney's office in St. Louis said. "In
the plea agreement, Cooper admitted to the fraudulent creation of shell
companies in the name of which Cooper would apply for visa to be used for other
companies, issuing bogus letters intended to deceive law enforcement as to the
immigration status of his client's workers, and to the outright purchase of
visas from other contracts to be illegally transferred to his client's workers."

Cooper, a state representative since 2005, said in a prepared statement that he
would resign his political post.

"The events of earlier today are about my overzealous representation of legal
clients in regards to ensuring they had an adequate workforce. I deeply regret
my actions and apologize to the people of Cape Girardeau for how my legal
practice has impacted my ability to serve."

Cooper's attorney, Joel Schwarz, said in a prepared statement that Cooper's
actions were not related to his official duties. "Nathan crossed the line in his
representation of a small number of these clients and will abide by whatever
sentence the court imposes."