10 charged in marriage-for-money scheme
By Mike Robinson
The Associated Press, November 23, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-immigrationfraud,0,7210363.story
Chicago — Ten people including at least five current or former traffic court employees have been charged with taking part in a marriage-for-money scheme aimed at getting around Immigration laws, prosecutors announced Monday.
At least fifteen foreign nationals paid thousands of dollars to marry people they had barely met and obtain permanent legal resident status in the United States, according to a 14-count indictment unsealed in federal court.
While actual marriages did take place, the motive in each case was strictly money on the part of the U.S. partners, prosecutors said. They said the foreign nationals were in the market for a green cards, not love.
Foreign nationals who marry U.S. citizens may apply for legal permanent resident status immediately and are eligible for citizenship in three years.
All 10 defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud — an offense in which the reason why the accused couple got married is the key.
'The defense to a charge of marriage fraud is love,' said Gerardo Gutierrez, an attorney for traffic court employee Keisha McGary, 33, who is charged with taking part in an August 2003 sham marriage.
'We'll see how this plays out,' Gutierrez told reporters. 'We'll work out some kind of equitable arrangement.'
Most of those who paid were Filipinos and none of them were charged, federal prosecutors said. At least five of the defendants were current or former employees of the Cook County traffic court.
Prosecutors declined to comment and two defense attorneys said they didn't know.
Among those charged was a Chicago Immigration attorney, Manny Aguja, 53, whose office is accused of producing some of the paperwork for the marriages.
Five defendants including Aguja appeared Monday afternoon before U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, pleaded not guilty and were released on $4,500 unsecured bonds.
A message left Monday at the office of Aguja's defense attorney Kent Carlson was not returned. 10 charged in marriage-for-money scheme
By Mike Robinson
The Associated Press, November 23, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-immigrationfraud,0,7210363.story
Chicago — Ten people including at least five current or former traffic court employees have been charged with taking part in a marriage-for-money scheme aimed at getting around Immigration laws, prosecutors announced Monday.
At least fifteen foreign nationals paid thousands of dollars to marry people they had barely met and obtain permanent legal resident status in the United States, according to a 14-count indictment unsealed in federal court.
While actual marriages did take place, the motive in each case was strictly money on the part of the U.S. partners, prosecutors said. They said the foreign nationals were in the market for a green cards, not love.
Foreign nationals who marry U.S. citizens may apply for legal permanent resident status immediately and are eligible for citizenship in three years.
All 10 defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud — an offense in which the reason why the accused couple got married is the key.
'The defense to a charge of marriage fraud is love,' said Gerardo Gutierrez, an attorney for traffic court employee Keisha McGary, 33, who is charged with taking part in an August 2003 sham marriage.
'We'll see how this plays out,' Gutierrez told reporters. 'We'll work out some kind of equitable arrangement.'
Most of those who paid were Filipinos and none of them were charged, federal prosecutors said. At least five of the defendants were current or former employees of the Cook County traffic court.
Prosecutors declined to comment and two defense attorneys said they didn't know.
Among those charged was a Chicago Immigration attorney, Manny Aguja, 53, whose office is accused of producing some of the paperwork for the marriages.
Five defendants including Aguja appeared Monday afternoon before U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, pleaded not guilty and were released on $4,500 unsecured bonds.
A message left Monday at the office of Aguja's defense attorney Kent Carlson was not returned.
