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NJ Couple Ginned Up Immigrant Asylum Applications, Charged Clients $1,000 A Pop: Feds
A New Jersey couple who operated an immigration business from their home are facing a federal trial for submitting bogus asylum applications for clients from Sri Lanka, authorities said.
Zuwairul Ameer, 61, and his wife, Claudette Ameer, 63, had been doing it since at least 2007 when a client who was approached by the FBI agreed to become a government cooperator, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said.
Applicants for asylum in the U.S. must show Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that they have suffered persecution in their homeland because of their race, religion, …
Six, Including Police Officer In Hudson Valley, Charged In Sex Trafficking, Bribery Scheme
A police officer who allegedly protected a prostitution ring in exchange for free sexual favors is among six facing a host of charges for their roles in operating a sex trafficking organization throughout New York, federal officials announced.
In Brooklyn federal court, a 14-count indictment has been unsealed for six suspects who ran the operation - which included minors - while the cop protected them from being arrested by law enforcement.
Those charged:
Wayne Peiffer, age 48, of Highland in Ulster County;
Jose Facundo Zarate Morals, age 32, of Queens.
Luz Elvira Cardona, age 33, of Que…
Woman Admits To Attempted Murder Of Man She Married To Obtain Citizenship In Westchester
A Jamaican woman who married a man from Westchester to illegally obtain US citizenship has admitted to attempting to kill her 74-year-old husband, authorities announced.
Olivia Raimo, age 30, who married a New Rochelle senior to gain citizenship, slit his wrist with a straight razor pleaded guilty to attempted murder, authorities said.
On Friday, Nov. 19, Raimo pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder.
Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah said that on Jan. 24, 2020, while in her victim’s New Rochelle home, Raimo pushed him, wedging him between the toilet seat and a …
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 Resident Admits To Arranging Fraudulent Marriages
A Fairfield County woman admitted to arranging more than two dozen sham marriages so that non-U.S. citizens could receive immigration benefits.
Jodian Stephenson, also known as Jodian Gordon, 35, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit immigration marriage fraud, U.S. Attorney John Durham said. In total, 28 sham marriages were arranged by Stephenson, who was in one of the arranged relationships.
Stephenson operated Stephenson Immigration and Legal Services, LLC, in Bridgeport and between 2011 and 2017, she conspired with others to arrang…
Three From Fairfield County Among Five Charged In Marriage Fraud Scheme
Three Fairfield County residents were among five implicated in an alleged scheme involving sham “green card” marriages.
Kenol Noel, 34, Carl Jarrett, 35, and Ricky Owen, 39, all of Bridgeport, have been charged with submitting false immigration documents after entering multiple “marriages” with non-U.S. citizens and sponsoring those non-citizens’ applications for lawful permanent residence in the U.S., also known as “green card” status.
Manhattan resident Marvin Williams, 59, and Dwight Henry, 44, a citizen of Jamaica living in Queens, are also facing charges for their roles in similar sche…
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 …
