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Former Resident In Region Sentenced For Charges Related To Sham Marriage

A former Western Massachusetts resident has been sentenced for entering into a sham marriage to obtain immigration benefits for another person.

Holding hands

Holding hands

Photo Credit: Photo by Aran Prime on Unsplash

Phu Thanh Huynh, age 33, formerly of Springfield, has been sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $20,000 forfeiture after admitting to marrying a Vietnamese national in 2013.

In September 2013, federal prosecutors said that Huynh married a Vietnamese national, referred to as Jane Doe, solely for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits for Doe, never living together after the sham marriage.

In late 2013 or early 2014, Huynh was paid $20,000 by a co-conspirator for going through with the sham marriage.

On approximately Nov. 7, 2013, Huynh filed a false petition with the US. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to classify Doe as his spouse for immigration purposes.

In May 2017, Huynh made various false statements to a USCIS officer concerning his marriage to Doe, including that they spoke to each other almost every day. 

In August, Huynh pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy, immigration fraud, and making false statements.

Acting US Attorney Nathaniel Mendell; Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. 

Assistant US Attorneys Steven Breslow and Julian Canzoneri of Mendell’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

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