Pakistani Woman Admits to Marriage Fraud Scheme

DALLAS — Amna Cheema, 37, a Pakistani national, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver yesterday and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Cheema will remain in custody pending sentencing which is set for January 22, 2018  Co-defendant Bilal Khaleeq, 47, is scheduled to begin trial on December 11, 2017 for his role in the conspiracy.  If convicted, Khaleeq faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to plea documents filed in the case, in May 2015, Cheema engaged in discussions with Khaleeq and another individual at Khaleeq’s law office to discuss planning Cheema’s marriage to Person A in order for Cheema to obtain legal status in the United States.  In exchange for agreeing to marry Cheema, Person A was paid $745 and promised more money after the immigration process was completed.  On June 15, 2015, Cheema married Person A to establish eligibility for legal status in the United States. 

Cheema, Person A and Khaleeq discussed the filing of the alien relative petition forms (I-130), the permanent residence applications (I-485), and additional evidence needed to ensure approval of those forms, including filing joint tax returns and placing articles of male clothing at Cheema’s house as further evidence of a valid marriage.

U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Javier is in charge of the prosecution.

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