Jun
18
Sham Marriage Ring Exposed
Filed Under Immigration News, US Citizenship
US federal authorities have exposed a fake marriage ring that allegedly linked nine US citizens and nine Eastern Europeans in a series of sham marriages for the purpose of obtaining permanent residency for the Eastern Europeans.
According to the authorities, the US citizens were paid $5000 per fake wedding and worked with each other to make the marriages appear genuine.
All nine US citizens have been charged with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, which can mean up to five years in prison if convicted.
The indictment states, “The US citizens took steps to further each other’s marriage frauds, including driving each other to and attending each other’s weddings and posing for photographs after the weddings, well knowing that the photographs were to be used to support the legitimacy of the fraudulent marriages.”