Nigerian Couple Sentenced to Probation for Conspiring to Commit Marriage Fraud for an Immigration Benefit

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Following pleas of guilty, two Nigerian citizens were sentenced in federal court to probation of one year on their convictions of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud for an immigration benefit, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose imposed the sentence on Adediran Bamgbose, age 38, and Temitope Elemosho, age 36, Pittsburgh, PA.

According to information presented to the court, Elemosho, a Nigerian citizen, conspired with Bamgbose, the father of her three children, also a Nigerian citizen, to give money to a citizen of the United States so that the United States citizen would enter into a sham marriage with her. Elemosho entered into the sham marriage with the United States citizen so that she could obtain legal permanent residency based upon the marriage. Bamgbose accepted responsibility for aiding and abetting marriage fraud. Elemosho accepted responsibility for entering into the sham marriage with the United States citizen and filing false documents with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

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

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution in this case.