A Chicago immigration attorney and five current or former Cook County Traffic Court employees are among ten people charged with arranging sham marriages so foreign nationals could illegally become U.S. citizens.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested the five of the suspects this morning, according to a press release from the U.S. Justice Department.
The indictment alleges Maria F. Cruz recruited legal citizens and foreign nationals to enter into in to at least 15 sham marriages. Most of the foreign nationals were Filipinos.
The indictment says Cruz charged about $3000 to arrange the marriages. The U.S. citizens involved were allegedly promised $3000 after the marriage and $300 - $350 every month until the foreign national obtained his or her citizenship.
Federal prosecutors say Cruz was a Cook County Traffic Court employee until she moved to California this summer.
The others charged are:
- Manny Aguja - 53, of Chicago, an immigration attorney with an office at 3144 West Montrose Ave.
- Marc Aguja - 53, of Chicago , Manny’s twin and an employee at the law officer
- Celeste Ligutan-Lopez - 36, of Chicago, also an employee at the law office
- Keisha McGary - 33, of Chicago, a county employee
- Eugene Wilson 30, of Chicago, a county employee
- Maria Cyd Adriatico-Fernandez, 53, of Oakbrook
- Sonia Maki, 43, of Chicago, a county employee
- DeShawn Barksdale, 39, of Chicago, a county employee
- Latrice Wilson, 37, of Chicago, a county employee
Prosecutors say each defendant was charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. Some were charged with marriage or immigration fraud, including Cruz who faces ten counts. The Aguja brothers were also charged with conspiracy to induce foreign nationals to reside illegally in the United States.
The press release detailing the indictment points out the defendants' employment at Cook County Traffic Court did not play a role in the alleged fraud scheme.
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