Leaders of Houston-based marriage fraud ring convicted in federal court

A trio of Houston residents were convicted this week in federal court of committing marriage fraud, according to officials. The aim of the fraud scheme was to obtain government assistance and other perks. A trio of Houston residents were convicted this week in federal court of committing marriage fraud, according to officials. The aim of the fraud scheme was to obtain government assistance and other perks. Photo: Harris County Photo: Harris County Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Leaders of Houston-based marriage fraud ring convicted in federal court 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A trio of Houston residents were convicted this week in federal court of committing marriage fraud, according to officials.

After four hours of deliberations a jury convicted Nigerian citizens Folarin H. Alabi, 35, and Justice Daniel, 41, and U.S. citizen Letrishia Andrews, 37, of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.

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According to a release from the Department of Justice on Monday, these convicts join eight others who have previously plead guilty to similar charges. The aim of the marriage fraud ring was to enter into so-called "sham" marriages to get around immigration laws. According to the release, Alabi would look for potential accomplices of Nigerian descent at area clubs and bars.

There was also evidence that at least one of those convicted, Andrews, had also filed false Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications to get obtain money for groceries.

The defendants would apparently go as far as posing for staged photos showing a seemingly happy marriage to fool officials. The defense team tried to convince a jury that Alabi and Daniel were in a real marriage that was just having problems. All other documents and testimony proved otherwise though.

Each of the defendants now face upt five years in federal prison along with fines as high as $250,000 for the conspiracy and marriage fraud convictions. Andrews could also get five years for the false statements related to the SNAP fraud.

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Sentencing isn't set until Aug. 3 and all will remain in custody until the sentencing date.

Houston's Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations team, in Houston, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General were all apart of the investigation.