Buffalo Woman Sentenced for Marriage Fraud

BUFFALO, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Pauline Gichuri, 40, a Buffalo, NY resident and native and citizen of Kenya, who was convicted of conspiring to commit marriage fraud, was sentenced to one year probation by U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Rogowski, who handled the case, stated that the defendant agreed to pay a United States citizen $5000 to enter into a sham marriage to allow Gichuri to remain in the United States. The defendant planned to apply for naturalization as a United States citizen. The sham marriage took place in Buffalo in 2004 and Gichuri was naturalized in 2010. Because citizenship was obtained by fraud, the defendant may be subjected to de-naturalization and removal from the United States. 

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.