Kroytor

BACKGROUND

I. Kroytor pleads guilty to health care fraud and

becomes removable from the United States. Yuly Kroytor is a Canadian citizen who has been a lawful permanent resident of the United States since 1995. About five years after obtaining legal status, Kroytor embarked on a multi-year fraudulent scheme: He bought fake prescriptions from medical clinics and then submitted false Medicaid/Medi-Cal bills for reimbursement. In 2002, Kroytor learned federal authorities had begun to investigate him for fraud. Soon after, he hired his first attorney, William Graysen, who represented him in plea negotiations. Kroytor was eventually charged with health care fraud and aiding and abetting the same in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1347(1), (2). The government estimated that Kroytor defrauded taxpayers of between $80,000 and $500,000. Because the loss exceeded $10,000, the crime was an aggravated felony that rendered Kroytor removable and ineligible for certain forms of relief. See 8 U.S.C. § 101(a)(43)(M)(i); 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(a)(3). Kroytor claims he asked his lawyer about potential immigration consequences. Graysen allegedly counseled Kroytor “not to worry” about his immigration status,…