Michigan psychiatrist Chilakamarri Ramesh convicted of fraud

May 18, 2009

Michigan psychiatrist Chilakamarri Ramesh pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit naturalization fraud.  Ramesh is said to have falsified diagnoses to help people gain United States citizenship without passing the English-proficiency portion of the naturalization exams.  Ramesh worked a Dearborn psychological evaluation center between 1999 and 2001, where he performed psychological evaluations on naturalization applicants.  He falsely diagnosed applicants with mental retardation, post-traumatic stress disorder, learning disabilities and dementia, according to federal authorities.  According to the statement of charges against him, Ramesh signed 953 false and fraudulent naturalization waiver forms for 492 applicants in Dearborn, Cleveland, St. Louis and Chicago.  He faces up to five years prison and $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on August 18.

(“West Bloomfield psychiatrist guilty of fraud,” Detroit Free Press, May 18, 2009.)