Thread: Plea deals reached in actress sham marriage case

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110122/ap_ ... iage_fraud

" By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – Fri Jan 21, 8:31 pm ET

LOS ANGELES – A Mexican actress has agreed to plead guilty to lying in an immigration proceeding and will avoid a retrial on charges that she engaged in a sham marriage to remain in the United States.

Fernanda Romero will acknowledge she made a false statement on an immigration form in December 2007, according to court records filed in Los Angeles.

Her husband, Kent Stuart Ross, also agreed to plead guilty to falsely stating on immigration forms that he and Romero were living together in 2005 and 2006.

Romero had small roles in several films, including "Drag Me to Hell," but is best known for her role in the Mexican soap opera "Eternamente Tuya."

Prosecutors are not seeking jail time for the couple, although it will be up to a judge to determine any punishment.

The pair was charged with entering a sham marriage in April, and a mistrial was declared in September after jurors reported deliberations had grown hostile.

A retrial was scheduled for February. The pair faced five years each in federal prison if convicted.

he actress had been living in the United States for 10 years, occasionally working as a model, before she and Ross married in 2005. Prosecutors contend the pair married so Romero could obtain permanent residency, although they were living in separate homes and were dating other people.

Her plea agreement called for her to acknowledge that she lied in a sworn statement that her mother and Ross "hang out all the time."

At her trial, Romero testified that she married Ross for love. But she and Ross said the relationship began deteriorating within six months.

Asked why he never sought a divorce, Ross said he never stopped loving Romero.

Prosecutors contended Ross, a musician and pizza restaurant manager, was paid $5,000 to marry Romero so she could obtain permanent residency.

The pair maintained separate apartments and Ross, under questioning, acknowledged that he never told his mother or brother about the marriage.

Romero and Ross were due in court on Jan. 28 to formally enter their guilty pleas. Romero's attorney, Michael Nasatir, said he could not comment on the case before the hearing."

Just another immigration fraud and it comming from the higher class of Mexico. It doesn't say the plea deal but I'd bet the actress will be allowed to stay after convicted and serving jail time.

What they deserve is to live happily ever out of the U.S.A.
Banished!

Doesn't say anything about her being deported!

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Doesn't say anything about her being deported!

It does if you look closely... "plea deal". Think there would be any plea deal if she would be deported afterwards? Thats why I'd bet no deportation afterwards.

Mexican actress pleads guilty in marriage case
(AP) – 6 hours ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Mexican actress pleaded guilty Friday to making a false statement to immigration authorities in a case alleging she engaged in a phony marriage to gain U.S. residency.

U.S. District Judge Manuel Real told Fernanda Romero to return for sentencing on April 11 but gave no indication of what her sentence might be.

The maximum would be five years in prison, plus a fine and probation, but prosecutors have not sought jail time.

Romero had small roles in several films, including "Drag Me to Hell," but is best known for her role in the Mexican soap opera "Eternamente Tuya."

Federal immigration agents sat at the prosecution table in court but did not speak. The issue of whether she could be deported was not raised at the hearing. It could be addressed at sentencing.

The actress had been living in the United States for 10 years, occasionally working as a model, before she and Kent Ross married in 2005.

Prosecutors contended they married so Romero could obtain permanent residency then lived in separate homes and dated other people.

The couple were charged early last year. A mistrial of the case was declared in September after jurors reported deliberations had grown hostile. The plea deal avoids a retrial.

The guilty plea came on a limited section of the original allegations against Romero, with the remaining charges to be dismissed at sentencing.

The statement at issue was made by Romero to immigration authorities when they were investigating the marriage. She told them Ross and her mother "hang out all the time," which authorities said was false.

"In truth and in fact defendant's mother and co-defendant Ross had only met on a few occasions," the plea agreement states.

.

Romero declined to give interviews but her lawyer, Michael Nasatir, issued a statement on her behalf.

"I deeply regret my making this misstatement to (immigration officials) and take full responsibility for my actions. I apologize to all of those who have supported me through this difficult time," the statement said.

Ross previously agreed to plead guilty to falsely stating on immigration forms that he and Romero were living together in 2005 and 2006. His plea hearing was postponed until Feb. 4.

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