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Romanian from Polk County pleads guilty in illegal alien scheme

Orlando, Florida — The federal government has shut down a smuggling operation that brought 24 illegal Romanians into the crountry under the ruse they were performers for Florida circuses, the U.S. Attorney's office reported today.

Constantin C. Durbalau, 30, of Davenport pleaded guilty the to charge before U.S.District Judge Anne C.Conway at the federal court in Orlando.

U.S.Attorney Paul I. Perez for the Middle District of Florida said according to Durbalau's plea agreement, he admitted that during the past three years he personally helped as many as 24 Romanians enter or remain in the United States through fraudulent means.

"As part of this scheme, Durbalau and another individual prepared fraudulent visa applications for the aliens that falsely stated that they were circus performers coming to work in Florida circuses," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.

"In fact, the aliens were not circus performers and were not needed at any of the circuses listed in the applications. Rather,the visa applications were simply a means for the aliens to enter or remain in the United States and were provided by Durbalau in return for a fee of between $2,000 and $3,500 per alien," the statement said.

Durbalau has agreed to be sent back to Romania after he serves time in prison., His sentence is scheduled for Febriary 12, 2007. He has also agreed to forfeit to the U.S. about $50,000 he earned in smuggling fees, the statement said.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)