‘I do’ for dough
Hit over immig-wed scam & then fare-beating
SOMETHING old, something new, something borrowed, something green.
A weepy serial bride pleaded not guilty Friday to felony charges in an alleged immigration scam where she said “I do” to 10 foreign-born husbands during an 11-year stretch.
Seven of Liana Barrientos’ spouses — including one who paid her $2,000 — filed for green cards to become permanent U.S. residents within weeks of the nuptials, authorities said.
Things went from bad to worse for the unlucky-in-love Barrientos when she was busted for fare-beating with a 19-year-old relative after leaving the arraignment and entering a platform at the 149th St. subway station through an emergency exit gate next to the turnstiles.
The two were released on their own recognizance after being arraigned on theft of service and criminal trespass charges. Covering her face with her coat, Barrientos took swings and spit at reporters looking for comment as she exited court, CBS 2 news reported. Barrientos, 39, maxed out on her marriages with eight hubbies at once — and is still legally attached to four of her spouses, prosecutors charged. One of that quartet was deported in 2006 for making threatening statements against the U.S. four years after their wedding.
The perpetual bride allegedly married immigrants from Egypt, Bangladesh, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Pakistan, Mali and Georgia.
Barrientos teared up when entering her plea, and said nothing else during her appearance. She was released on her own recognizance — on the felony charges pending a May 18 court appearance.
Prosecutors said she admitted taking cash from one of the six men she married in 2002 in return for pictures and documents. He filed for resident status the next month.
Barrientos’ eighth husband was deported to Pakistan for making threatening statements against the United States in 2006, prosecutors said. She and Rashid Rajput were married for four years, and he filed paperwork to stay in the U.S. one month after their nuptials, authorities said. Though living on different continents, they remain a legal couple.
Another six husbands filed for permanent resident status after exchanging vows with Barrientos, authorities said — with five soon divorcing her.
Barrientos faces up to four years in prison if convicted on two counts of offering false instruments for filing a sham marriage license application and the signed license itself. The suspect claimed on both documents that this was her first trip down the aisle.
Barrientos is a native of the Dominican Republic, and was living with an 11th man in the Bronx until her February arrest, said Ruben George, 50, superintendent of their building on the Grand Concourse.
The serial bride and Carlos Garcia lived with two kids in a one-bedroom apartment for seven months until she was busted and left, George said.
“She looked really nice,” Garcia said. “I was surprised when I heard what happened.”