Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
OK another non illegal Mexican related post. So these women who are US citizens are on the same level of any illegal drug user supporting the illegal immigration trend. Though during these tough times, it is a way to supplement your income.
Immigration officials in Cincinnati unsealed indictments Friday against 10 people accused of participating in one of the largest sham marriage schemes in the region's history.
The complex scheme involved hundreds of immigrants who overstayed their visas and got married to U.S. citizens so they could remain in the United States, federal authorities say.
"It was very extensive," said Rich Wilkins, the agent in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Cincinnati. "It would be fair to say it was national in scope."
He said most of the immigrants were eastern European men who learned of the fraudulent marriage scam by word of mouth or via the Internet.
Authorities say the men contacted "arrangers" who prepared immigration paperwork, found prospective brides and put together photo albums, personal histories and other material that would make it appear to immigration agents that the marriages were legitimate.
Sometimes, Wilkins said, the men would not meet their brides until the day they got married.
According to court records, the women were paid to marry the men and to continue the fraud for as long as necessary. The arrangers and the leaders of the organization took the rest of the money.
Federal prosecutors would not disclose how much the men paid, but court records indicate one woman received $5,000 after marrying one of the immigrants.
"It was a for-profit scheme," said Christy Muncy, an assistant U.S. attorney. "They didn't do it out of the kindness of their heart."
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
