Pastor Nabbed: Shonubi Gets 18 Months for Marriage Scam

BALTIMORE, MD – Joshua Shonubi, 59, of Bowie, Maryland, is trading his pulpit for a prison cell. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman handed down an 18-month federal sentence today for the disgraced pastor’s role in a cynical scheme to exploit the U.S. immigration system. Shonubi pleaded guilty to charges of Conspiracy to Commit Visa and Marriage Fraud, alongside a count of Aggravated Identity Theft.

The case, announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore, and USCIS, reveals a calculated operation spanning over a decade. Shonubi, leveraging his position as pastor at New Life City Church, preyed on financially vulnerable U.S. citizens, offering them cash to enter into sham marriages with foreign nationals seeking permanent residency.

This wasn’t about love; it was about profit. Shonubi directly accepted payments from the foreign nationals in exchange for facilitating these fraudulent unions. He actively recruited and “groomed” economically disadvantaged Americans, turning their desperation into a key component of his criminal enterprise. He didn’t just connect people – he built a facade of legitimacy, meticulously crafting documents to deceive federal authorities.

The extent of the fraud is staggering. Between June 2008 and June 2021, Shonubi facilitated over 60 fraudulent marriages and submitted more than 100 falsified documents to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. These included fabricated leases, bogus paystubs, and, most brazenly, sworn letters on church letterhead falsely attesting to the validity of the ceremonies he himself never performed. He actively lied to the government to benefit his clients and line his own pockets.

“This defendant abused a position of trust to facilitate a callous scheme that undermined the integrity of our immigration system,” stated U.S. Attorney Barron. The investigation, a joint effort by HSI and USCIS, highlights the ongoing battle against those who seek to exploit the system for personal gain. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn deserves credit for securing this conviction and ensuring Shonubi faces justice.

Shonubi’s sentence sends a clear message: those who profit from the deception of immigration laws will be held accountable. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and its community outreach programs, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.