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2 in marriage fraud convicted
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Posted on Dec 29 2008
Two persons were convicted of entering into a fake marriage so one of them will get an immigration status in the CNMI.
Ryan Ray Ilo pleaded guilty to one count of immigration fraud, while Zandra Arguelles, also known as Zandra Ilo, pleaded guilty to two counts of document fraud.
Superior Court Associate Judge David Wiseman sentenced the 30-year-old Ilo to two years in prison, all suspended, except for two months. Wiseman gave Ilo credit for two days he has already served in jail.
The judge directed Ilo to start serving his two-month prison term on Jan. 5, 2009, at the Department of Corrections.
Wiseman also required Ilo to perform 50 hours of community service and pay a $500 fine and $25 court assessment fee plus a probation fee.
With respect to Arguelles, she was sentenced to two years in prison, all suspended, except for two days. Arguelles was given a two-day credit for the time she had already served in jail.
Arguelles, however, agreed to be deported to the Philippines and that she would shoulder her repatriation ticket.
Arguelles agreed to assist law enforcement officials in any ongoing investigations and to testify during the prosecution against seven persons allegedly involved in immigration fraud.
The defendant was ordered to pay a total of $550 in work permit and immigration fees for the years 2007 and 2008. She was also required to pay $75 in fine and court assessment fee.
According to the basis of the plea agreement, on March 16, 2004, Ilo, a U.S. citizen, unlawfully entered into a marriage with Arguelles, a citizen of the Philippines.
The purposes of the marriage were to procure Arguelles’ entry into the CNMI, her naturalization, and for her permanent residency in the Commonwealth.
The agreement stated that on April 13, 2007, and April 13, 2008, Arguelles represented to the Division of Immigration that she intended to reside in the CNMI as the Immediate Relative of Ilo for the sole purpose of obtaining a labor or immigration benefit and that she was entitled to an IR entry permit.
