Idaho Mountain Express: 2 plead guilty to marriage fraud

Friday, February 17, 2012

2 plead guilty to marriage fraud

Feds report 6 people prosecuted in Blaine County

By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Two Blaine County residents have pleaded guilty in federal court to marriage fraud for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boise reported earlier this month.

A press released identified the two as Jenny Sedano-Vilcapoma, 30, of Ketchum, and Rudy Isla-Mejico, 36, of Bellevue. Both pleaded guilty on Feb. 6 in U.S. District Court in Boise. Sedano-Vilcapoma admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud while Isla-Mejico admitted to marriage fraud.

Both federal crimes are punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years probation. Sentencing was scheduled for April 30 in Boise.

The U.S. Attorney's Office identified both defendants as Peruvian nationals.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Sedano-Vilcapoma admitted to agreeing to enter into a fraudulent marriage in October 2006 with a U.S. citizen "for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits for herself." As part of the agreement, the U.S. citizen would receive financial compensation in turn for assisting Sedano-Vilcapoma in obtaining legal permanent resident status.

Isla-Mejico admitted to arranging a fraudulent marriage in January 2007 between a U.S. citizen and a foreign national. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the U.S. citizen was paid $2,000 for agreeing to the marriage.

The investigation is ongoing and more persons may be charged.

Cases against both defendants were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The U.S. Attorney's Office has reported prosecuting six Blaine County individuals, including both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, within the past year on various federal fraudulent marriage charges.

"Our nation's immigration laws are intended to provide benefits to individuals who meet certain criteria, not opportunists who manipulate the system for personal gain," stated Brad Bench, acting special agent in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in Idaho.

Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com

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