ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Immigration Fraud Scheme Involving Fake Marriages Busted in US; Here's how it was Orchestrated

Explore the conviction of Engilbert Ulan, a key player in a large-scale marriage fraud.
PUBLISHED JAN 6, 2024
 Engilbert Ulan's Key Role in Operating a Marriage Fraud Scheme. Pexels | By Sabel Blanco
Engilbert Ulan's Key Role in Operating a Marriage Fraud Scheme. Pexels | By Sabel Blanco

Immigration offers an option for people to look for more opportunities abroad and make a better life in another land, but it can also land them in the centre of a scam. The latest to take advantage of this desire to emigrate to the US is a 42-year-old Philippine national residing in Los Angeles, who has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston for orchestrating a large-scale marriage fraud scheme. This scheme, run by an "agency" operated by Marcialito "Mars" Benitez, involved arranging over 300 sham marriages aimed at circumventing immigration laws.

Marriage Fraud Pexels | By Sora Shimazaki
Marriage Fraud Pexels | By Sora Shimazaki

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy underscored the severity of Ulan's actions, emphasizing the fraudulent agency's exploitation of the immigration system for personal gains. The conviction is seen as a swift and decisive enforcement action, reflecting a commitment to preserving the integrity of the immigration process and upholding the principles that define the nation's approach to welcoming immigrants and prospective citizens. This legal intervention sends a clear message that marriage fraud will not be tolerated.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), led by Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen, considers Ulan's conviction a warning to others attempting to circumvent immigration laws. This collaborative approach underscores the government's commitment to maintaining the sanctity of the immigration process and safeguarding the nation's values.

Homeland security Pexels | By Pixabay
Homeland security Pexels | By Pixabay

 

It was also found that these sham marriages orchestrated by Ulan wasted federal resources, delayed legitimate marriages, and posed threats to national security by enabling individuals to remain in the country through deceit.

Ulan's involvement in the marriage fraud scheme extended beyond mere orchestration. Evidence presented at trial revealed a detailed modus operandi, including staged sham wedding ceremonies and the fabrication of supporting documents. The agency, with Ulan as a key player, paired foreign national "clients" with US citizens and staged fake wedding ceremonies at various locations. These ceremonies were performed by hired online officiants, and photos of undocumented clients and citizen spouses were taken in front of prop wedding decorations for later submission with immigration applications.

Ulan conducted practice interviews with the agency's clients and their fake spouses, preparing them to pass required interviews with immigration authorities. His coaching involved instructing sham couples to provide consistent, fabricated answers during green card interviews, concealing the fraudulent nature of the marriages.

Ulan also prepared fraudulent marriage and immigration documents, including fabricating supporting documents submitted as "evidence" of the marriage's legitimacy. He rented out his apartment address to clients residing outside of Los Angeles, allowing them to list his address on green card applications and related documents, creating a false appearance that they were living with their sham spouses in the Los Angeles area. Ulan received cash commissions for referring new clients to the agency.

FBI Pexels | By EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA
FBI Pexels | By Ekaterina Bolovtsova

Ulan's conviction serves as a critical milestone in the fight against marriage fraud and the exploitation of the U.S. immigration system. The collaboration between law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security, highlights the government's ability to preserve the integrity of the immigration process.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The guest who paid $15 for the storage cabinet was pleasantly surprised in the end.
22 hours ago
The men of Shark Tank looked as dashing as ever in their red wigs from 'How to be a Redhead'.
1 day ago
It was a dream come true for many in the Pawn Shop to see the great WWE wrestler.
1 day ago
This was a rare occasion on which contestants made Harvey nervous on his show.
1 day ago
Fans are now getting concerned as the "accident-prone" host can't seem to find his balance.
1 day ago
Greiner put her foot down to get a deal with "Simply Fit Board" and it all worked out in the end.
1 day ago
Turns out Steve Harvey is quite sensitive about some of his facial features.
2 days ago
The TikTok creator exposed the political links of suppliers and manufacturers of these products.
2 days ago
The contestant nearly had a perfect game, but she missed out on one correct guess.
3 days ago
The guest later mentioned that her father would be surprised and joked that she might send it back to him.
3 days ago
The guest who was looking for $300 changed his mind after the artifact got a big appraisal.
3 days ago
The show's expert turned out to be off by miles as the item was much more significant than he knew.
3 days ago
Turns out the pages weren't out of any common edition of the Bible but an important one.
4 days ago
While Harrison was ready to fork up serious cash for the Roman coin, the owner had other ideas.
4 days ago
Despite the huge offer, the owner of the memorabilia chose to walk out on Harrison.
4 days ago
Fans were considering all possibilities in the wake of a streak of bonus round losses.
4 days ago
Cuban had dropped out twice before coming back with the offer for the entire firm.
5 days ago
The guest who only knew that the ring was worth $20,000 in the 70s wasn't prepared for the appraisal
5 days ago
Courtney White competed on the show with her friends as part of a bragging rights episode.
5 days ago
Miniature construction material maker, Mini Materials, was ironically 'too small' for the Sharks.
6 days ago