Wedding Scam Paired Fort Bragg Soldiers with Immigrants, Feds State

RALEIGH, N.C. — A sergeant and a personal at Fort Bragg desired to set up sham marriages between soldiers and immigrants, providing cash, housing advantages and furniture as incentive for possible brides, relating to federal court papers.

Arrest warrants had been released the other day for Sgt. Edward Kumi Anguah, referred to as «the facilitator» associated with the conspiracy, and Pvt. Ahmid Mohammed-Murtada, a recently naturalized resident from Ghana serving in a Fort Bragg Army device, court public records reveal.

The research started in when an agent for the Department of Homeland Security interviewed Pvt december. Endasia East about having an event with a solitary soldier while married to Sulemana Ibrahim, relating to an unlawful grievance filed in U.S. District Court when it comes to Eastern District of new york.

Throughout that meeting, «she confirmed the wedding had been in reality fraudulent,» relating to court public records russian bride sex.

On its internet site, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services claims it generally does not recognize «relationships entered into for purposes of evading immigration laws and regulations.»

Mohammed, about marrying Ibrahim, who wanted to gain lawful permanent residence, an affidavit said as he is called in court records, served in the same unit with East and approached her. Court public records reveal Ibrahim had been a resident of Ghana residing in ny for a tourist visa that expired in 2018 july.

Included in the deal, East would be to get a Basic Housing Allowance stipend, typically $1,000 or maybe more, 2 months’ lease totaling $1,250 and furniture for a unique apartment that is off-post.

East and Ibrahim married during the Cumberland County Courthouse in July, then East went along to supper with Anguah, whom said he arranged numerous marriages that are fraudulent the affidavit stated.

«She ended up being told by Sgt. Anguah and personal Mohammed that she will have to stage photos with Ibrahim to make the wedding look legitimate,» in accordance with court papers.

The 2 soldiers additionally instructed East to put Ibrahim on her behalf apartment lease to offer the appearance he lived in Fayetteville instead of ny, documents said. She additionally included him to service member life insurance policies papers.

«Private East stated Sgt. Anguah had expected her if she ended up being willing to find extra soldiers for him to set up marriages to,» the affidavit stated. «She told Sgt. Anguah she could be in the search.»

East later called Anguah and talked about a friend «interested in doing the thing that is same i am doing with Ibrahim,» documents stated, to which Anguah replied, «Yeah.»

In January, an officer that is undercover Anguah at a Starbucks in Fayetteville and told him she desired $800 to marry an immigrant, and Anguah recommended $2,000 alternatively. Later on, the affidavit stated, she had been told by him he ended up being planning to get $6,000 and simply take a cut.

«Sgt. Anguah claimed he’d care for the ring and ‘everything,'» the affidavit said.

On Monday, Anguah called the representative with a man whom identified himself as Kwaphoom Eugene Hoomkwap exactly in danger. In the phone, Hoomkwap stated he wished to log off work with nyc to have hitched in Fayetteville, court public records stated.

On Thursday, they came across during the Fayetteville courthouse for the wedding permit.

Federal arrest warrants had been given for Hoomkwap, Ibrahim, Mohammed-Murtada and Anguah on charges of marriage fraud, misuse of visas and aiding and abetting thursday.

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