US court sentences 4 Pinoys over large-scale marriage fraud --- By DAVE LLAVANES JR.

NEW YORK—Four Filipinos, all residents of Los Angeles, California, have been sentenced by a federal court in Boston, Massachusetts, for orchestrating a large-scale marriage fraud scheme. Marcialito Benitez, 50, Juanita Pacson, 48, Engilbert Ulan, 43, and Nino Valmeo, 43, were convicted of conspiring to arrange fraudulent marriages, helping hundreds of undocumented immigrants in obtaining legal status in the United States. Benitez was sentenced on March 7, 2024, by US District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 22 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in September 2023. Pacson was sentenced on the same day to two years of supervised release, with the first four months to be served on home detention, after previously pleading guilty in September 2023. Ulan was sentenced on March 6, 2024 to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He was convicted by a federal jury in November 2023. Valmeo was sentenced on January 11, 2024 to three years of supervised release, with the first six months on home confinement, after pleading guilty in August 2023. Court records reveal that the four Filipinos colluded to arrange sham marriages in exchange for sums ranging from $20,000 to $35,000 USD. They allegedly submitted falsified documents to facilitate the processing of work permits and green cards for their clients. Benitez's agency was found to have orchestrated fraudulent marriages and submitted counterfeit immigration documents for at least 600 clients between October 2016 and March 2022. Several co-defendants were previously sentenced for their involvement in the scheme. Peterson Souza, who referred non-citizens to the agency for a fee, received a five-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release, with the first five months on home detention. Felipe David, who referred clients to the agency for assistance with VAWA-based applications, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. —NB, GMA Integrated News

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