HOUSTON – Three Houston residents, Folarin H. Alabi, 35, Justice Daniel, 41, and Letrishia Andrews, 37, have been found guilty after a five-day jury trial for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, aiding/abetting marriage fraud, theft of government funds, and false statements. The defendants were part of a scheme involving Nigerian nationals and U.S. citizens.
Alabi, the alleged leader, was also convicted of aiding and abetting marriage fraud. Daniel was found guilty of one count of marriage fraud, while Andrews was convicted of aiding and abetting marriage fraud, theft of government funds, and false statements related to her Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications.
This verdict brings the total number of defendants convicted in two separate but related cases of marriage fraud in Texas to 11. Eight others had previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme.
A ‘sham’ marriage is a marriage entered into primarily to circumvent immigration laws. All 11 defendants conspired to arrange such marriages between U.S. citizens and Nigerian nationals. Evidence revealed that Alabi would search for and recruit Nigerian nationals at nightclubs.
The conspirators paid U.S. citizens to enter into fraudulent marriages with Nigerian nationals, who had entered the country on tourist visas. They then completed immigration documents and falsely submitted them to obtain legal permanent resident status. The defendants took staged photographs of themselves as a couple for documentation and coached the recruits on what to say when questioned by law enforcement.
At trial, evidence showed Alabi recruited Nigerian nationals to enter into ‘sham’ marriages with U.S. citizens to deceive immigration authorities. Andrews submitted false SNAP applications while simultaneously filing sworn immigration documents claiming to be married to Daniel. The defense attempted to argue the marriage was legitimate despite all evidence to the contrary, but the jury found them guilty as charged.
Each defendant faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine on the conspiracy and marriage fraud counts.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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