MIAMI, Fla. — Three men have been sentenced in Miami federal court for running a long-standing scheme to help undocumented aliens gain U.S. citizenship through fraudulent marriages.
Odalys Marrero, 51, Rolando Mulet, 62, and Javier Manejias, 51, were convicted of conspiring to defraud the United States.
From 2009 to 2014, the three charged undocumented aliens tens of thousands of dollars to arrange fraudulent marriages, complete with fake weddings, the FBI said.
They would prepare the individuals for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services interviews and provide supporting documents, like joint utility bills and bank statements to make it look as if they lived together, when in reality they did not.
“The defendants in this investigation defrauded the government and undermined the integrity of our nation’s legal immigration system” said Mark Selby, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Miami. “These arrests by HSI should send a clear message that we will continue to target those who try to obtain immigration benefits fraudulently.”
Marrero and Mulet, who were also convicted of encouraging an alien to reside in the U.S., were sentenced to 48 months in prison.
Manejias was sentenced to eight months in prison.
Cox Media Group
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