Federal authorities say an indictment charges 12 people with operating a massive immigration fraud mill through a Manhattan-based law practice.

They say the defendants and their co-conspirators applied for legal status for tens of thousands of illegal immigrants based on bogus claims that U.S. employers had sponsored them.

They say the scheme took in millions of dollars in illicit proceeds.

It's part of an ongoing investigation. So far, 27 people have been charged.

The accused ringleader, Earl Seth David, was arrested Tuesday in Canada after allegedly fleeing the U.S. Information on his attorney was not immediately available.

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