One of 2 Indian brothers gets federal probation for arranging marriage scam

A Monroeville man was sentenced to federal probation on Thursday for arranging a fake marriage for his brother so he could remain in the U.S.

U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab imposed a term of three years on Makhan Singh, 53, who has owned or co-owned convenience stores in Mount Oliver and White Oak.

Singh had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.

From 2011 to 2018, he conspired with his brother Rajinder Singh and Dawn Haroulakis, who is originally from McKeesport, to enter into a bogus marriage to evade immigration laws.

Singh offered to pay Ms. Maroulakis’ school debts if she would agree to the deal so Rajinder, a native of India, could obtain permanent residency.

“Ms. Haroulakis and Rajinder Singh engaged in a sham marriage, and subsequently provided false documents and testimony to United States,” said

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Wiegand in court papers.

Makhan made payments of more than $15,000.

The bogus couple lied to immigration authorities about their union and pretended the marriage was real by staging photos and opening a joint bank account.

In 2013, Ms. Haroulakis signed forms and submitted them to immigration officials claiming that she was married to Rajinder.

For his part, Rajinder lied to authorities in 2017 when he said he and Ms. Haroulakis had not been separated or lived apart in the previous five years when in fact they had lived separately. Ms. Haroulakis also lied in saying she hadn’t been paid to lie on the forms or to marry Rajinder so he could get a green card to stay in the U.S.

Makhan made regular payments and also paid for car insurance on a vehicle jointly registered by the fake couple to make it appear they were married.

Makhan Singh’s lawyer, Michael Waltman, asked for leniency and said his client is a hardworking family man who just wanted to help his brother stay in the U.S.

“Although he recognizes that his actions were criminal, there were not, nor has it been alleged, any nefarious motivations for the commission of the crime,” Mr. Waltman said in sentencing papers.

Ms. Haroulakis was sentenced in June to two years of probation and 20 hours of community service each year.

The case against Rajinder Singh is pending.