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Press Release

Georgia Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Commit Marriage Fraud

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

RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that today in federal court, Tojiddin Ghaibulloyev Rahimov, age 47, a naturalized citizen of the United States, born in Tajikistan, residing in Columbus, Georgia, was sentenced by United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan to 8 months imprisonment following a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.

The indictment alleges that Melissa Godshall and Robert Kennerley, who were romantically involved, were panhandling for money on the side of the road in Granville County, North Carolina. Rahimov approached them and asked Godshall if she would be willing to marry a foreign-born national for money. Rahimov introduced Godshall to Levan Lomtatidze, a citizen of the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. Thereafter, Godshall agreed to engage in the marriage to Lomtatidze in exchange for $12,000, housing, and a vehicle. 

Lomtatidze and Godshall got married in Granville County, North Carolina. The marriage ceremony was witnessed by Kennerley and another individual. Thereafter, Lomtatidze transferred $1,000 to Rahimov’s bank account.

Lomtatidze, Godshall and Kennerley entered into a rental agreement for a house located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The rent was paid for by Lomtatidze as part of the payment for the sham marriage. Thereafter, Godshall and Lomtatidze submitted fraudulent applications to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requesting Lomtatidze’s adjustment of status as a lawful permanent resident in the United States (commonly known as a “green card”).  Rahimov prepared Lomtatidze and Godshall for their interview with USCIS.

At the interview, both Godshall and Lomtatidze attested under oath they were married in good faith. As a result of the interview, USCIS approved the request and Lomtatidze was granted conditional resident status in the United States.  Later, Lomtatidze and Godshall submitted to USCIS another application attesting they were still married in good faith and requesting Lomtatidze’s removal of conditions on his resident status. A fraudulent letter supporting Lomtatidze’s removal of conditions attesting to the legitimacy of the marriage was submitted by Godshall’s mother, Marilyn Godshall.

Godshall, Lomtatidze, and Kennerley were all charged and sentenced for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud via separate indictments in Case No. 5:19-cr-00106-FL. Moreover, Marilyn Godshall was also charged and convicted for aiding and abetting in Case No. 7:19-mj-01053-FL.

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations, assigned to the Document Benefit Fraud Task Force, investigated the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-cr-00180-FL.

 

Updated March 15, 2021

Topic
Immigration