ALICIA A.G. LIMTIACO, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced today that defendant QIONG LU PUA, a legal permanent resident of the United States, was found guilty, following a three day jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, for conspiracy to defraud the United States. The jury found the defendant planned and orchestrated two fraudulent marriages so that the foreign national spouses could obtain immigration benefits. PUA instructed members of the conspiracy to open bank accounts, apply for passports, and encouraged them to lie to federal immigration officials. The defendant will be sentenced Oct. 30, 2015, and she faces a maximum of five years imprisonment and a $250,000.00 fine.
“Obtaining immigration benefits illegally is a continuing problem that threatens the safety of our community. Becoming a legal permanent resident of the United States is an accomplishment that should not be demeaned by the criminal acts of those who enter into fraudulent marriages. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our federal and local law enforcement partners, such as the Diplomatic Security Services and Homeland Security Investigations, to put an end to this problem." United States Attorney Limtiaco stated.
The Diplomatic Security Services agency of the Department of State conducted the investigation with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Russell Lorfing and Assistant United States Attorney Ross Naughton prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
