Jason Bolt, Marriage Fraud, South Carolina 2024

Bolt, a 39-year-old Laurens man, has entered a guilty plea in federal court on charges of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.

According to court documents, Jason Bolt was involved in a marriage fraud conspiracy involving Brazilian aliens who were paying US citizens to enter into fraudulent marriages with them in order to gain United States citizenship.

It has been alleged that Bolt was paid between $9,000 and $10,000 to enter into a fraudulent marriage with one of the Brazilian defendants who was eventually successful in obtaining United States citizenship through this fraud.

Staged photographs of Bolt and this Brazilian defendant were taken, and fraudulent affidavits falsely claiming that Bolt and this Brazilian defendant lived together were submitted, all for the purpose of corroborating this sham marriage.

United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that the maximum penalty Bolt can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 5 years, plus a special assessment of $100.

The case was investigated by agents of the ICE-Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Brad Parham of the Florence office handled the case.

Bolt’s guilty plea was accepted by United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence, who will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Jason Bolt’s involvement in this marriage fraud conspiracy has brought him under scrutiny, and his sentencing will be a crucial step in addressing this issue.

Contact Person: Lance Crick (864) 282-2105

Related Federal Cases