RALEIGH, N.C. — A sergeant and a personal at Fort Bragg desired to prepare sham marriages between soldiers and immigrants, providing money, housing advantages and furniture as motivation for prospective brides, based on federal court papers.
Arrest warrants had been granted a week ago for Sgt. Edward Kumi Anguah, called «the facilitator» associated with the conspiracy, and Pvt. Ahmid Mohammed-Murtada, a recently naturalized resident from Ghana serving in a Fort Bragg Army device, court public records reveal.
The research started in when an agent for the Department of Homeland Security interviewed Pvt december. Endasia East about having an event having a solitary soldier while married to Sulemana Ibrahim, in accordance with an unlawful issue filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of new york.
Through that meeting, «she confirmed the wedding had been in reality fraudulent,» relating to court public records.
On its site, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says it doesn’t recognize «relationships entered into for purposes of evading immigration regulations.»
Mohammed, about marrying Ibrahim, who wanted to gain lawful permanent residence, an affidavit said as he is called in court records, served in the same unit with East and approached her. Court public records show Ibrahim had been a resident of Ghana staying in ny for a tourist visa that expired in 2018 july.
Within the deal, East would be to get a Basic Housing Allowance stipend, typically $1,000 or higher, 8 weeks’ lease totaling $1,250 and furniture for a unique off-post apartment.
East and Ibrahim married during the Cumberland County Courthouse in July, then East went along to supper with Anguah, whom stated he arranged numerous fraudulent marriages, the affidavit said.
«She had been told through Sgt. Anguah and Private Mohammed that she would have to stage photos with Ibrahim to make the marriage look legitimate,» relating to court papers.
The 2 soldiers additionally instructed East to position Ibrahim on her behalf apartment rent to provide the look he lived in Fayetteville in the place of ny, documents said. She also added him to solution member life insurance coverage papers.
«Private East stated Sgt. Anguah had asked her for him to arrange marriages to,» the affidavit said if how much for a ukrainian bride she was willing to find additional soldiers. «She told Sgt. Anguah she could be regarding the search.»
East later called Anguah and talked about a friend «interested in doing the thing that is same i am doing with Ibrahim,» documents stated, to which Anguah responded, «Yeah.»
In January, an officer that is undercover Anguah at a Starbucks in Fayetteville and told him she desired $800 to marry an immigrant, and Anguah recommended $2,000 alternatively. Later on, the affidavit stated, she was told by him he had been planning to get $6,000 and simply take a cut.
«Sgt. Anguah reported he’d care for the band and ‘everything,'» the affidavit stated.
On Monday, Anguah called the agent with a guy whom identified himself as Kwaphoom Eugene Hoomkwap at risk. Regarding the phone, Hoomkwap stated he wished to log off operate in ny to have hitched in Fayetteville, court public records stated.
On Thursday, they came across during the Fayetteville courthouse for the marriage permit.
Federal arrest warrants were released Thursday for Hoomkwap, Ibrahim, Mohammed-Murtada and Anguah on fees of wedding fraudulence, abuse of visas and aiding and abetting.
