McKees Rocks Man Pleads Guilty in Marriage Fraud Scheme

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. Norman Lee McCullough, 55, of McKees Rocks, Pa., pleaded guilty to one felony count before Senior United States District Judge Donetta Ambrose.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from June 2016 to May 4, 2017, McCullough conspired with two other individuals to defraud the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and to commit offenses against the United States. McCullough, a United States citizen, received money and entered into a sham marriage with a Nigerian citizen so that the Nigerian citizen could obtain legal permanent residency in the United States. McCullough also submitted false statements to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for January 3, 2019 at 1 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both, for the conspiracy. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from USCIS, conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.