KC Couple Guilty in Marriage Fraud Ring

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In a gritty tale of deceit, Delmar Dixon and Shakeisha Harrison have been exposed for their roles in a marriage fraud conspiracy that targeted African nationals.

Dixon, 49, and Harrison, 37, both from Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to charges stemming from an August 2016 federal indictment.

The duo confessed to participating in a scheme designed to help African immigrants circumvent immigration laws through fraudulent marriages. Dixon alone arranged 30 to 40 such unions, charging each immigrant $1,000 for his services and directing them to pay their American spouses an additional $500 at the wedding and another $500 upon completion of the ceremony.

Dixon himself engaged in a fraudulent marriage, obtaining a license in 2008 to marry a Kenyan national who had overstayed her visa. Harrison entered into a fraudulent union with a Tanzanian national she met through Dixon, leading to immigration applications that were eventually denied.

Traci R. Porter, 44, another Kansas City resident, pleaded guilty on January 19, 2017, to her involvement in the conspiracy. She was involved in multiple marriages meant to aid in immigration fraud and faced similar charges.

The investigation relied heavily on confidential informants and undercover agents to bring the scheme to light. Dixon faces up to 15 years in federal prison without parole, while Harrison and Porter could each receive up to five years without parole. The sentencing of these defendants will be determined by the court based on their specific roles in this sordid plot.