Syed Raheel Farook, 31, of Corona, California, admitted in federal court today to conspiring to commit immigration fraud, a direct fallout from the investigation into the December 2, 2015, San Bernardino massacre that left 14 dead and 22 wounded. The guilty plea, entered before United States District Judge Jesus Bernal, ties Farook to a scheme designed to illegally fast-track a Russian national’s path to U.S. citizenship through a sham marriage.
Farook pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to knowingly make false statements in immigration documents and to commit perjury. The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in April 2016, also names his wife, Tatiana Farook, and sister-in-law, Mariyah Chernykh, as co-conspirators. The trio allegedly arranged a fraudulent marriage between Chernykh, a Russian citizen, and Enrique Marquez Jr., a U.S. citizen, beginning in late 2014 and continuing through February 2016.
The scheme involved submitting falsified affidavits, applications, and other documents to U.S. immigration authorities in an effort to secure lawful status for Chernykh. Prosecutors say the false statements allowed Chernykh to bypass legal immigration channels, cutting in line ahead of legitimate applicants. In addition to the conspiracy charge, Chernykh faces two counts of making false statements under oath and one count of lying to federal agents. Her trial, along with Tatiana Farook’s, is set for March 28.
Enrique Marquez Jr. was charged in a separate federal indictment not only with participating in the marriage fraud but also with plotting terrorist attacks in the Inland Empire with Syed Rizwan Farook—the deceased San Bernardino attacker—back in 2011 and 2012. Marquez is further accused of providing the two assault rifles later used in the 2015 attack by Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik. He is scheduled to stand trial on September 26 before Judge Bernal.
“Today’s guilty plea is the result of the thorough investigation into the brutal attack in San Bernardino that took the lives of 14 innocent Americans and tragically affected many more shooting victims and family members,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “Law enforcement and prosecutors in my office continue to seek justice for the victims and the entire community of San Bernardino by uncovering and prosecuting all of the criminal activity related to the terrible events of December 2. As I have said many times, we are committed to leaving no stone unturned in this investigation.”
Farook now faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for November 13. “The false statements Mr. Farook admittedly made allowed others to cut the line to attain citizenship ahead of legitimate applicants,” said Deirdre Fike, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “This guilty plea should serve as a message for anyone contemplating similar activity that flouting the immigration laws of the United States has serious consequences.”
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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