Five Sentenced Earlier

BOISE – Jenny Sedano-Vilcapoma, 30, a Peruvian citizen living in Ketchum, Idaho, was sentenced today to 12 months plus one day in prison and fined $1,000 for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. She appeared before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

Sedano-Vilcapoma pleaded guilty to the charge on February 6, 2012. During her plea, Sedano-Vilcapoma admitted that in 2006, she conspired to enter into a fraudulent marriage with a United States citizen for the sole purpose of obtaining immigration benefits. She further admitted that she then applied for immigration benefits by asserting that her marriage was a legitimate marriage.

The investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), revealed that Sedano-Vilcapoma also assisted at least three other Peruvian citizens living in Blaine County, Idaho, in entering into fraudulent marriages with United States citizens for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits. HSI placed Sedano- Vilcapoma in administrative removal proceedings, which are currently pending.

Sedano-Vilcapoma is the sixth and final defendant sentenced as a result of the investigation into the marriage fraud scheme. On April 30, 2012, U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge sentenced Rudy Isla-Mejico, 38, of Hailey, Idaho, to five years probation and a $1,000 fine for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. During his plea, Isla-Mejico admitted assisting Sedano-Vilcapoma in recruiting individuals to enter into fraudulent marriages to obtain immigration benefits.

Four United States citizens were convicted of the crime of making false statements in an immigration application as a result of their participation in the marriage fraud scheme. They admitted entering into fraudulent marriages in exchange for money. On October 25, 2011, Anthony Joseph Scafidi, 31, formerly of Hailey, Idaho, was sentenced by Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale to three years probation and fined $5,000. On July 20, 2011, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald E. Bush sentenced Joshua Lee Buell, 30, of Ketchum, Idaho, and Daniel Casado, 34, formerly of Ketchum, to five years probation and 60 hours of community service. Buell was fined $5,000 and Casado $3,500. On May 18, 2011, Judge Dale sentenced Bryon Thomas Bain, 34, formerly of Ketchum, to a $3,500 fine.