Lobsang Dargey and his company Path America solicited foreign investors to raise money for two real estate projects: a skyscraper in downtown Seattle and a mixed-use commercial development in Everett, Washington. From February 2012 to April 2014, Path America raised over $125 million from 282 Chinese nationals.

Unbeknownst to investors, Dargey used part of the funds for his own personal benefit. Dargey's made cash withdrawals at casinos and several expensive purchases using the visa-seekers investments, including a $2.5 million-dollar home and an additional commercial property not listed in the original business plan.

Dargey did not inform his companies' 282 investors that the companies had departed the original business plans. Because investors' money went towards unrelated projects, the investors' residency applications were subject to denial by U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS).