New Jersey Woman Entered into Sham Marriage to Provide Nigerian Native Living in Pittsburgh with Lawful Permanent Residency

PITTSBURGH, PA - A New Jersey resident has plead guilty in federal court in Pittsburgh to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Entering a guilty plea before United States District Court Judge Marilyn J. Horan was Ajia Strauss, age 28, of Newark, NJ.

According to information presented to the court, from June 2016, to March 2019, Monsuru Ogunbiyi and Ajia Strauss conspired with one another to defraud the United States. Ogunbiyi, a native and citizen of Nigeria who was living in Pittsburgh, and Strauss, a native and citizen of the United States, agreed to enter into a sham marriage so that Ogunbiyi could obtain lawful permanent residency in the United States. As part of the conspiracy, Ogunbiyi agreed to pay money to Strauss. Also as a part of the conspiracy, Ogunbiyi and Strauss submitted false and fraudulent statements and documents to the United States.

The Court set sentencing for June 4, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, or both, for the charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Department of Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the guilty plea in this case.