Joseph Sanchez, a 33-year-old resident of Fairbury, Illinois, has been sentenced to five years of federal probation for his involvement in an immigration marriage fraud conspiracy. The sentencing took place in Beckley, West Virginia.
Court documents and statements reveal that in August 2021, while residing in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, Sanchez was approached by a foreign national working at a nearby convenience store. The foreign national proposed paying Sanchez to find a woman willing to marry him so he could secure lawful permanent resident status. Sanchez agreed to the arrangement for $10,000—$5,000 upon the marriage's finalization and another $5,000 once the Green Card was obtained.
Sanchez arranged for his sister-in-law to marry the foreign national. He informed her about the purpose and financial incentives of the arrangement. The sister-in-law had minimal interaction with the foreign national outside of being a customer at his store.
The marriage took place in September 2021 in White Sulphur Springs. In March 2023, Sanchez accompanied his sister-in-law and the foreign national to Pittsburgh for an interview with U.S. immigration officials. The intent was to deceive officials into believing their marriage was genuine; however, the attempt failed and resulted in denial of the application.
Aakash Prakash Makwana, identified as the foreign national involved in this scheme, pleaded guilty on May 14, 2025, to aggravated identity theft. Makwana admitted to falsifying a lease agreement by including unauthorized information from a residential property manager as part of the fraud scheme. His sentencing is set for September 26, 2025.
Kalee Ann Huff, Sanchez’s sister-in-law aged 28 and currently residing in Fairbury, Illinois, pleaded guilty on February 20, 2025. She admitted her participation in marriage fraud and perjury related to false testimony before a federal grand jury concerning material facts about the investigation. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 12, 2025.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced these developments while acknowledging investigative efforts by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed Sanchez's sentence with Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuting.
Further details can be accessed through PACER under Case No. 5:24-cr-198 or via the U.S Attorney’s Office website for Southern District of West Virginia.
