'You will definitely get caught': a Connecticut resident faces a prison for organizing fictitious marriages

19 August 35-year-old Jodian Stevenson, also known as Jodian Gordon, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, pleaded guilty to organizing dozens of fictitious marriages with foreigners who entered into to legalize and receive immigration benefits in the United States.

Фото: Depositphotos

As reported on the official website US Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS representatives learned about possible fraudulent marriages for the purpose of obtaining green cards back in 2016, at which time a large-scale investigation was launched.

According to court documents and statements, Stevenson managed Stephenson Immigration and Legal Services LLC in Bridgeport. In the period from 2011 to 2017, she entered into a conspiracy with other persons to arrange 28 fictitious marriages between US citizens and foreigners with citizenship of other countries residing in the USA, so that non-citizens can apply for and obtain the status of legal permanent residence (LPR), also known as getting a green card.

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One of the 28 fictitious marriages was between Stevenson and a Jamaican citizen. For each of the other 27 fraudulent marriages, Stevenson identified and presented a U.S. citizen as the intended spouse and assisted the fictitious spouses in obtaining a marriage license. She organized wedding ceremonies and celebrations, and gave advice on how to fake a “real” marriage in front of the authorities, even though neither couple lived together or intended to stay married for long.

Under this scheme, Stevenson prepared several immigration documents necessary for applying for a green card. She asked the applicant and his spouse to sign the documents and, in many cases, sent the documents by mail to the USCIS immigration authorities. In some cases, Stevenson or her assistants prepared other false documents for the couple, such as fraudulent lease agreements, which were supposed to make the authorities believe that the couple was living together.

Stevenson typically charged foreign citizens between $17 and $000 for her services, while U.S. citizen spouses received between $20 and $000 for their participation in the process.

During the investigation, Stevenson offered to arrange a sham marriage for the undercover government official and help him obtain a green card in exchange for a proposed fee of $20. In recorded conversations, Stevenson introduced the undercover agent to the US citizen and gave advice to the "couple" on how to make it appear that they were legally married and living together as husband and wife.

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Stevenson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit immigration fraud in marriage. She is waiting for a maximum term of imprisonment of five years after US District Judge Michael Shea convicts her in Hartford. No sentencing date has been set.

Stevenson has been released on bail of 250 000 dollars since her arrest on 22 on June 2018.

Six other individuals involved in this scheme have previously pleaded guilty.

“We take marriage fraud and all other types of fraud seriously,” said USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli. “Let this serve as a reminder that if you engage in fraudulent activities, you will definitely be caught.”

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