It was not instantly clear whether or not the defendants had attorneys. None have been listed for them in court docket data.
The 11 defendants have been recognized within the affidavit as Marcialito Biol Benitez, 48; Engilbert Ulan, 39; Nino Reyes Valmeo, 45; Harold Poquita, 30; Juanita Pacson, 45; Felipe Capindo David, 49; Peterson Souza, 34; Devon Hammer, 26; Tamia Duckett, 25; Karina Santos, 24; and Casey Loya, 33.
Utilizing a brick-and-mortar non permanent staffing company in Los Angeles that Mr. Benitez arrange as a entrance, the group recognized lots of of international nationals looking for to use for U.S. citizenship and lawful everlasting resident standing by inexperienced playing cards, prosecutors mentioned.
Mr. Benitez supplied purchasers with fee schedules that detailed upfront funds for marriage ceremonies and the submitting of immigration paperwork, in response to the affidavit. To maintain up the looks that the marriages have been legit, the purchasers have been required to make month-to-month funds to spouses that had been recruited by the defendants till the purchasers obtained full, lawful everlasting resident standing, the affidavit mentioned.
Joseph R. Bonavolonta, a particular agent answerable for the F.B.I.’s area workplace in Boston, accused the defendants of getting “made a sham” of the method of changing into a U.S. citizen.
“This case ought to function a warning to others that the F.B.I. and our regulation enforcement companions are united in our efforts to disrupt and dismantle legal enterprises that search to bypass our legal guidelines by fraudulent means,” Mr. Bonavolonta mentioned within the assertion on Thursday.
Every of the defendants was charged with one depend of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration doc fraud. If convicted, the defendants resist 5 years in jail, three years of supervised launch and fines of $250,000.
Supply: NY Times