Tajikistan national sentenced on visa fraud charges
Paid a woman to marry him in order to get status as permanent resident alien
PITTSBURGH - A Pennsylvania resident was sentenced June 1 to "time served," two years supervised release, and criminal forfeiture of a vehicle for committing visa fraud. The case was investigated U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
According to court documents, Mirzodzhon Mirzomatov, 26, of Coraopolis, Pa., lied to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service under penalty of perjury in a visa application required by immigration laws. Mirzomatov falsely stated in his permanent residence application that he had never sought entry into the United States by fraud, when in fact he had paid a woman to marry him and then entered into a fraudulent marriage in order to procure status as a permanent resident alien.
"Fraudulent marriage schemes and visa fraud undermine the integrity of our immigration system," said John P. Kelleghan, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Philadelphia. "HSI will continue to use its broad authorities to target those individuals who engage in these illegal schemes that directly threaten our communities."
Mirzomatov pleaded guilty in federal court before U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone.
Once released from the custody of U.S. Marshals, Mirzomatov will be placed in removal proceedings.
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