Folarin H. Alabi, Marriage Fraud, Texas 2023

Houston, Texas – May 24, 2023

A Houston jury has convicted three residents of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, aiding and abetting marriage fraud, marriage fraud, theft of government funds, and false statements. The verdicts bring the total number of defendants convicted in two separate marriage fraud cases to 11.

Folarin H. Alabi, 35, a Nigerian citizen and leader of the conspiracy, was convicted of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, aiding and abetting marriage fraud. Justice Daniel, 41, a Nigerian citizen, was convicted of one count of marriage fraud. Letrishia Andrews, 37, a U.S. citizen, was convicted of aiding and abetting marriage fraud, theft of government funds, and false statements related to her Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications.

The evidence presented at trial revealed that Alabi would recruit Nigerian nationals at nightclubs and pay U.S. citizens to enter into fraudulent marriages with Nigerian nationals who had entered the country on tourist visas. The conspirators would then complete immigration documents and falsely submit them to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) to obtain legal permanent resident status. The defendants would also take staged photographs of themselves as a couple for documentation of an allegedly meaningful relationship.

The jury heard that Andrews submitted false SNAP applications claiming to be single, while at the same time, filing sworn immigration documents claiming to be married to Daniel. The defense attempted to convince the jury that Andrews and Daniel had marital issues but were in a legitimate marriage, despite all the documents and testimony to the contrary.

The defendants face up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine on the conspiracy and marriage fraud counts.

Mandatory Facts: Folarin H. Alabi, 35, Nigerian citizen and leader of the conspiracy; Justice Daniel, 41, Nigerian citizen; Letrishia Andrews, 37, U.S. citizen. Exact criminal charges: conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, aiding and abetting marriage fraud, marriage fraud, theft of government funds, and false statements. City and state: Houston, Texas. Sentence: up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. Dollar amounts: $250,000.

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