Wedding Scam Paired Fort Bragg Soldiers with Immigrants, Feds State

RALEIGH, N.C. — A sergeant and a personal at Fort Bragg desired to prepare sham marriages between soldiers and immigrants, providing money, housing benefits and furniture as motivation for possible brides, in accordance with federal court papers.

Arrest warrants had been released a week ago for Sgt. Edward Kumi Anguah, referred to as “the facilitator” associated with the conspiracy, and Pvt. Ahmid Mohammed-Murtada, a recently naturalized resident from Ghana serving in a Fort Bragg Army product, court public records reveal.

The research started in when an agent for the Department of Homeland Security interviewed Pvt december. Endasia East about having an event with a soldier that is single married to Sulemana Ibrahim, in accordance with a criminal grievance filed in U.S. District Court when it comes to Eastern District of new york.

Through that meeting, “she confirmed the marriage had been in reality fraudulent,” in accordance with court public records.

On its internet site, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services claims it doesn’t recognize “relationships entered into for purposes of evading immigration laws and regulations.”

Mohammed, as he is known as in court public records, served in identical product with East and approached her about marrying Ibrahim, who wished to gain legal permanent residence, an affidavit said. Court public records reveal Ibrahim had been a resident of Ghana located in nyc for a tourist visa that expired in July 2018.

Included in the deal, East would be to get a Basic Housing Allowance stipend, typically $1,000 or higher, 2 months’ lease totaling $1,250 and furniture for an innovative new off-post apartment.

East and Ibrahim married in the Cumberland County Courthouse in July, then East went along to supper with Anguah, whom stated he arranged many fraudulent marriages, the affidavit stated.

“She was told by Sgt. Anguah and personal Mohammed that she will have to stage photos with Ibrahim so as to make the wedding look legitimate,” in accordance with court papers.

The 2 soldiers additionally instructed East to put Ibrahim on the apartment rent to offer the looks he lived in Fayetteville in the place of ny, documents said. She additionally included him to solution member term life insurance papers.

“Private East stated Sgt. Anguah had asked her if she ended up being ready to find extra soldiers for him to set up marriages to,” the affidavit stated. “She told Sgt. Anguah she will be from the lookout.”

East later called Anguah and pointed out a friend “interested in doing the thing that is same I’m doing with Ibrahim,” documents stated, to which Anguah responded, “Yeah.”

In January, an undercover officer met Anguah at a Starbucks in Fayetteville and told him she desired $800 to marry an immigrant, and Anguah proposed $2,000 alternatively. Later on, the affidavit stated, she had been told by him he had been planning to get $6,000 and have a cut.

“Sgt. Anguah reported he would care for the ring and ‘everything,'” the affidavit stated.

On Anguah called find ukrainian brides the agent with a man who identified himself as Kwaphoom Eugene Hoomkwap on the line monday. Regarding the phone, Hoomkwap stated he wished to log off work with ny to obtain hitched in Fayetteville, court public records stated.

On they met at the Fayetteville courthouse for the marriage license thursday.

Federal arrest warrants had been given Thursday for Hoomkwap, Ibrahim, Mohammed-Murtada and Anguah on costs of wedding fraudulence, abuse of visas and aiding and abetting.