ALEXANDRIA, VA – The jig is up for two players in a cynical marriage fraud scheme that preyed on both American citizens and the immigration system. Carine Kojia Aleah Epse Mbendeke, 27, of New Carrollton, Maryland, and Irene Marie Mbono, 35, of Washington, D.C., were convicted today of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, a case federal prosecutors dubbed “Operation Evasive Immigration.”
The pair weren’t working alone. They were key cogs in a ring led by Landry Mbendeke, currently doing time in federal prison. From December 2013 through August 2015, the Mbendekes allegedly ran a racket recruiting U.S. citizens to falsely marry Cameroonian nationals, all for a paltry $5,000. It’s a cheap price for someone willing to risk federal charges, and the evidence suggests they found plenty of takers.
Court records detail how Carine Mbendeke personally traveled to Cameroon twice with American co-conspirators to facilitate these sham marriages. She didn’t just show up – she orchestrated the ceremonies, acted as a translator, and collected the necessary immigration paperwork. One conspirator, denied a U.S. passport, opted for a D.C.-based sham marriage with Irene Mbono. The scheme was brazen, and the prosecutors built a solid case.
The Mbendekes reportedly attempted to recruit around 18 U.S. citizens into their scheme. Six of those recruited have already pleaded guilty to their involvement, including Marcus Carlye Brooks, Benjamin Franklin Minkins, Jr., Kenneth Cornelius Lewis, Alecia Angelita Portillo, Keonna Lakata Lynch, and James Settles III. These individuals are likely facing their own reckoning with the law.
Irene Mbono now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars, while Carine Mbendeke could see up to five years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 14th. While maximum penalties are often quoted, actual sentences will be determined by Judge Leonie M. Brinkema, considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Don’t expect sympathy; this was a calculated attempt to exploit the system.
The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Richard Ingram, Special Agent in Charge of the Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carina A. Cuellar and Michelle R. Pascucci prosecuted the case. Court documents related to Case No. 1:16-cr-272 are available on PACER and the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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