Feds: 18 faked weddings to skirt immigration law

June 11, 2007
STNG News Service
Eighteen people -- nine U.S. citizens and nine Eastern European nationals -- face federal charges of allegedly pairing up and entering into sham marriages to evade U.S. immigration laws, the U.S. Attorney’s office said today.

Five people were arrested today by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and warrants were issued for the others after a 17-count federal indictment was unsealed alleging that since July 2002, ringleader Jeremy Starnes and others conspired to pay $5,000 to citizens to enter into fraudulent marriages with foreign nationals to enable them to receive legal permanent residence and "Green Cards," the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Starnes, 31, of Chicago, and the other eight U.S. citizens are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, and aiding and abetting marriage fraud. Starnes, among those arrested today, was also charged with nine counts of marriage fraud and one count of obstruction of justice.

Starnes and Svetlana Kostigova, 25, of Schaumburg, also arrested today, allegedly lied under oath about their marriage in July 2002 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services staff during a marriage interview in 2005, falsely saying they entered into the marriage in good faith and had a child together, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Also arrested were Tammy Daniels, 37, and Tina Chaney, 33, both U.S. citizens, and Leonard Leonte, 33, of Chicago. All five appeared Monday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys.

The other U.S. citizens charged are Brooke Thompson, 22, and her sister, Bridgette Thompson, 25, both of River Grove; Cari Arrieta, 24; Fred Chaney, 41; Linda Laskowski, 44; and Amy Dupree, 25, all of Chicago, the release said. The other foreign defendants are: Janis Murnieks, 29; Nicolay Nankinov, 38, of Lyons; Vanco Dimitrov, 27, of Schaumburg; Edgars Ivulans, 29; Ewa Jelen, 49; Boris Medik, 58, of Chicago; and Laurentiu Gavra, 29, of Chicago.

If convicted, each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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