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Tag: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Lawrence Township Couple Admits To Lying On Asylum Applications For Sri Lankans, Feds Say
A Lawrence Township couple admitted to submitting fraudulent asylum applications for clients from Sri Lanka, authorities said.
Zuwairul Ameer, 61, and Claudette Ameer, 63, pleaded guilty on Monday, Aug. 26 to conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. They were indicted in the immigration fraud case on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023.
According to court documents and statements, Zuwairul Ameer, also known as "Zuwairul Thowfeek," submitted false asylum applications for non-citizen clients since at least 2007. Claudette Am…
PA Man Learns His Fate For Fathering Two Kids With 12-Year-Old Girl
A Pennsylvania man was sentenced Tuesday, July 26 for repeatedly leaving the country to have a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl, with whom he later fathered two children, federal authorities said.
Valentin Ortiz, 73, of Reading, was sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $10,000 restitution, United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said.
Ortiz was convicted in November 2021 of one count of travel in foreign commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and two counts o…
Former Western Mass Resident Admits To Sham Marriage
A former area resident man has pleaded guilty in connection with entering into a sham marriage in order to obtain immigration benefits for another person.
Phu Thanh Huynh, age 33, formerly of Springfield, who pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Aug. 4, married a Vietnamese national, referred to as Jane Doe in September 2018, solely for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits for Doe, said the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.
According to the US Attorney, Huynh and Doe never lived together after getting married, and that a co-conspirator paid Huynh $20,000 in cash …
Fairfield County Woman Among Two Charged With Running Marriage Fraud Scheme
A 14-count indictment was unsealed on Friday detailing charges against two Connecticut residents, including one from Fairfield County, accused of operating an extensive immigration marriage fraud scheme, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Jodian Stephenson, 34, of Bridgeport --also known as “Jodian Gordon,” and Donovan Lawrence, 62, of Milford, were charged, according to John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, and Christopher W. Fonda, Supervisory Immigration Officer for …
