J’can woman pleads guilty to arranging 28 sham marriages

BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT (AP):

A Jamaican woman in Connecticut who federal prosecutors say helped arrange 28 sham marriages to obtain immigration benefits for non-citizens has pleaded guilty.

The Connecticut Post reports that 35-year-old Jodian Stephenson, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit immigration marriage fraud in federal court in New Haven Monday.

Prosecutors say that one of the sham marriages was between Stephenson and a US citizen.

Officials say that she introduced the couples, organised the marriage celebration and ceremony, and coached them on how to make their relationship and marriage appear real.

She would charge up to $20,000 to fill out immigration paperwork and complete the process. Stephenson faces up to five years in prison.