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Press Release

Former U.S. Army Soldier Indicted on Conspiracy to Commit Marriage Fraud, Marriage Fraud, Harboring an Alien for Financial Gain, Visa Fraud, False Statements Under Oath, Theft of Government Property and Criminal Contempt Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a former U.S. Army soldier with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, harboring an alien for financial gain, visa fraud, false statement under oath, theft of government property, and criminal contempt. 

According to the indictment, Endasia Mahagony East, a U.S. Citizen, knowingly induced a foreign-born national to enter into a sham marriage with her for the purpose of evading United States immigration laws and obtaining lawful permanent residence status for the otherwise inadmissible foreign-born national.   

East is charged in a 7-count indictment, if convicted she faces multiple counts of 5 years maximum imprisonment, multiple counts of 10 years maximum imprisonment, a count of 15 years maximum imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000 per count, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF) in the Eastern District of North Carolina lead by Homeland Security Investigations.

A copy of this press release is located on our website

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

Updated July 24, 2020

Topic
Immigration