Source: Seattle Times, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Tri-City Herald
A couple in the Seattle suburb of Kent who claimed for over a decade to be immigration experts advised some clients to falsely claim they were gay, according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Steven Mahoney, 41, and his estranged wife, Helen Mahoney, 38, Tuesday morning after an investigation that began in September, Seattle Times and Seattle PI report.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud.
US Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler ordered Steven Mahoney held pending a detention hearing Friday. She released Helen Mahoney pending further court proceedings, Seattle Post Intelligencer reports.
Allegation: Couple advised immigrants to falsely claim to be gay [contd.]
According to the indictment, the Mahoneys, who are both naturalized US citizens from Russia, told at least three immigrants to falsely state they were gay on immigration documents and that they feared persecution or even death if they returned to their own countries.
The three victims are identified only by initials, and the indictment does not indicate what countries they were from, according to the Seattle Times.
The indictment alleges that Helena Mahoney helped one man obtain "documents about the gay community to him in preparing for his asylum interview."
Another immigrant, identified as G.V., reportedly submitted documents to the immigration officials claiming that he was afraid he would be maimed if he returned to his homeland "when in truth ... G.V. was not afraid of such maiming," according to the indictment.
Seattle Times reports that it is not clear whether any of the immigrants mentioned in the indictment were granted asylum.
If found guilty of the conspiracy charge, the Mahoneys each face a maximum sentence of five years in a federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Steven Mahoney also faces up to a 10-year sentence if found guilty on a fraud count, according to the PI.
Source: Alleged advice to asylum seekers: Tell feds you're gay | Seattle Times
King County couple arrested in gay asylum scam | Seattle Post Intelligencer
2 charged in Seattle with gay immigration fraud | Tri-City Herald
Last modified: 25 Apr 09 07:07
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