Makhan Singh, Marriage Fraud, Pennsylvania 2018

Makhan Singh, 53, a resident of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, has admitted to his role in a brazen marriage fraud scheme that aimed to deceive immigration laws.

According to court records, Singh conspired with his brother Rajinder Singh and United States citizen Dawn Haroulakis to facilitate a sham marriage. The scheme, which took place between 2011 and 2018, involved Singh offering Haroulakis $15,000 to marry his brother, Rajinder, in order to secure permanent residency for the Indian national.

U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady announced the guilty plea, stating that Singh’s actions were a blatant attempt to circumvent immigration laws. Singh pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud before U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.

The court was informed that the sham marriage was facilitated by Singh’s payments to Haroulakis, totaling over $15,000. In exchange, Haroulakis agreed to marry Rajinder Singh, a move that would grant the Indian national legal permanent residency in the United States.

The Pittsburgh Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a multi-agency partnership, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Singh. The task force, which consists of agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General, worked tirelessly to uncover the immigration scam.

Singh’s sentencing is scheduled for August 6, 2020, and he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy C. Wiegand is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

As the nation grapples with the complex issue of immigration, cases like Singh’s highlight the need for stricter regulations and enforcement. The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

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