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Marriage fraud trial ends
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Posted on Aug 13 2008
The trial of a Bangladeshi man accused of conspiring to commit marriage fraud ended Wednesday, with both sides agreeing the defendant was present during the planning of the crime, but disagreeing on whether he knew the crime was taking place.
Both Assistant Attorney General Melissa Simms and defense attorney Steve Pixley agreed that Minto Minto was standing outside of a car when others were making arrangements for fake marriages in order to obtain a labor or immigration cards, but disagreed on whether he was aware of what was going on.
Minto is charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and two counts of solicitation.
According to the charging information, in March 2007 Maria Aurelio Ray, Muhammad Saiful Islam and Minto agreed on a plan for Islam to marry Alisilynn Mallens for the sole purpose of obtaining labor and immigration benefits.
Also in March 2007, Ray, Munnaf Miah and Minto allegedly conspired that Miah would marry Severene Kosam for the purpose of obtaining labor and immigration benefits.
“The evidence shows Mr. Minto was present, that’s it,” Pixley said.
Simms argued Minto was within earshot and could hear the discussions taking place and was actively involved in the plans for the fake marriages.
“This definitely is the most unlucky person, or up to his eyeballs in this conspiracy,” Simms said of Minto. “He’s up to his eyeballs.”
She said Islam was going to give Minto $1,000 for setting up the marriage. Islam’s green card expired on May 6, 2005.
“He needed to get married and he needed to get married fast,” Simms said.
The government went after Minto because he was “an outsider,” Pixley said.
In July, Miah was found guilty of soliciting marriage fraud, but he was acquitted on the charge of conspiring with others to commit marriage fraud.
In May, a jury found Ray guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, but acquitted her on two counts of solicitation.
Islam fled to Bangladesh before he could be tried.
