Romanian National Sentenced For Obtaining A Visa By Fraud

BOISE – Romanian national Stefan Csaba Csep, 32, currently living in Ketchum, Idaho, was sentenced today for obtaining a visa by fraud, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced Csep to two years’ probation and imposed a $500 fine. Csep will be subject to immigration enforcement action by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Csep pleaded guilty to the charge in January 2013.

According to the plea agreement, Csep entered into a fraudulent marriage with a United States Citizen in 2005, with the sole purpose of evading immigration laws and obtaining immigration benefits. According to court documents, Csep did not reside with the individual he married. Following the marriage, he filed paperwork with the Department of Homeland Security/Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), seeking lawful permanent resident status based on his fraudulent marriage to a U.S. citizen. USCIS subsequently approved the application and Csep was granted a lawful permanent resident visa.

As a result of his conviction, Csep will be administratively removed to his native country of Romania, and will be prohibited from entering the United States in the future.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).