Thread: MASS: Holyoke woman admits to arranging sham marriages

Holyoke woman admits to arranging sham marriages
February 10, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.—A Holyoke woman charged with arranging dozens of sham marriages between immigrants seeking green cards and American citizens has pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors say 58-year-old Maria-Helena Knoller pleaded guilty on Wednesday to marriage fraud and shielding illegal aliens in federal court in Springfield. She faces up to 15 years in prison at sentencing scheduled for July 8.

Authorities say when they raided Knoller's home in 2008, they found $117,000 in cash and a bag containing 61 gold wedding bands, as well as a ledger that appeared to list more than 50 couples. Prosecutors say she charged mostly Brazilian immigrants between $6,000 and $12,000 per marriage, giving some to the American citizen and keeping the rest.

Knoller's lawyer says his client is a legal immigrant from Brazil with no prior criminal record.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massac ... marriages/

"Knoller's lawyer says his client is a legal immigrant from Brazil with no prior criminal record."

I guess the criminal record thing changes now, HUH????

Now they just need to go down that list arrest the Americans on rico fraud charges and deport the illegal spouses.