Fake marriage broker sentenced for US immigration breach
August 21 2009 by Rebekah Nahai
Sham marriages secures US visas for clients
A woman brokering sham marriages so her clients could obtain US immigration benefits has been sentenced to 19 months in prison and fined $250k.
Kwan Tsoi organised a conspiracy that paired foreign nationals with US citizens in order to obtain US visas. From February 2007, she has organised at least nine fake marriages.
Tsoi admitted to submitting or assisting in submitting applications for spouse visas for couples married solely for the purpose of citizenship attainment and financial gain.
She pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, six counts of marriage fraud and five counts of false statements on US immigration documents.
Tsoi found her clients by advertising in Chinese-language newspapers in San Francisco. She charged $30k apiece for assisting in the US immigration process through the veil of false marriage.
Two accomplices have also been sentenced.
The case came as a result of investigation by by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
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