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Tampa 'matchmaker' gets prison time for arranging fake marriages
Source: Tampa Bay Biz Journal
Author - Jo-Lynn Brown
A Tampa woman has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.
Cassandra Hamilton pled guilty to the charge on April 15, after an investigation found she was paid to arrange 10 marriages between U.S. citizens and Jamaican citizens over the course of several years, according to a statement from the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The purpose of the marriages was to get U.S. residency and citizenship for the Jamaican citizens involved.
It was the second such case in recent days. Nerene Erica Harrison, a Jamaican woman, was found guilty of marriage fraud earlier this week for paying Robert Kenneth Scott Cruz, a U.S. citizen, $6,000 to marry her after her temporary work visa expired, a statement said.
They were married on Aug. 15, 2011, with Harrison applying for permanent resident status thereafter.
Cruz pled guilty on March 27 and faces a maximum penalty of five years prison time. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 11.
Tampa 'matchmaker' gets prison time for arranging fake marriages
Source: Tampa Bay Biz Journal
Author - Jo-Lynn Brown
A Tampa woman has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.
Cassandra Hamilton pled guilty to the charge on April 15, after an investigation found she was paid to arrange 10 marriages between U.S. citizens and Jamaican citizens over the course of several years, according to a statement from the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The purpose of the marriages was to get U.S. residency and citizenship for the Jamaican citizens involved.
It was the second such case in recent days. Nerene Erica Harrison, a Jamaican woman, was found guilty of marriage fraud earlier this week for paying Robert Kenneth Scott Cruz, a U.S. citizen, $6,000 to marry her after her temporary work visa expired, a statement said.
They were married on Aug. 15, 2011, with Harrison applying for permanent resident status thereafter.
Cruz pled guilty on March 27 and faces a maximum penalty of five years prison time. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 11.