A man accused of advising straight immigrants to claim homosexuality - and potential persecution in their home countries - when they applied for asylum has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Steven Mahoney held himself out as an expert in immigration affairs and ran Mahoney and Associates in Kent, which advised immigrants on how to stay in the U.S. He pleaded guilty in April, acknowledging that between 1998 and 2007 he filed as many as 99 false immigration documents and was paid between $1,000 and $4,000 for each.
In addition to false claims of homosexuality, he advised some clients to claim they could be tortured due to their religious practices or political views.
His ex-wife, Helen Mahoney, was sentenced to six months. Both are naturalized U.S. citizens from Russia.
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Washington man gets 18 months in gay immigration fraud
Posted by
Fight4theRight 942 days ago
(http://www.thenewstribune.com)
Man pleads guilty in gay immigration fraud
Posted by
JesSEA 1121 days ago
(http://seattletimes.nwsource.com)
A man accused of advising straight immigrants to claim homosexuality - and potential persecution in their home countries - when they applied for asylum has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit immigration fraud.
Steven Mahoney entered his plea Tuesday in federal court in Seattle.
The U.S. attorney's office says the 41-year-old Mahoney ran Mahoney and Associates in Kent, and held himself out as an expert in immigration affairs. They say he made money by advising immigrants on how to stay in the U.S. Between late 1998 and mid 2007, Mahoney admits he filed as many as 99 false immigration documents and was paid between $1,000 and $4,000 for each.
Mahoney faces a maximum five years in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 21.
Mahoney's ex-wife Helen Mahoney, also charged with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, faces a plea hearing later t
Steven Mahoney entered his plea Tuesday in federal court in Seattle.
The U.S. attorney's office says the 41-year-old Mahoney ran Mahoney and Associates in Kent, and held himself out as an expert in immigration affairs. They say he made money by advising immigrants on how to stay in the U.S. Between late 1998 and mid 2007, Mahoney admits he filed as many as 99 false immigration documents and was paid between $1,000 and $4,000 for each.
Mahoney faces a maximum five years in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 21.
Mahoney's ex-wife Helen Mahoney, also charged with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, faces a plea hearing later t
Couple Arrested in Gay Immigration Fraud
Posted by
Fight4theRight 1140 days ago
(http://www.kirotv.com)
A federal grand jury in Seattle has charged two people in an alleged immigration fraud conspiracy, saying they advised straight immigrants to claim homosexuality in applying for political asylum.
2 charged in Seattle with gay immigration fraud
Posted by
Fight4theRight 1145 days ago
(http://www.edgesanfrancisco.com)
A federal grand jury in Seattle has charged two people in an alleged immigration fraud conspiracy, saying they advised straight immigrants to claim homosexuality in applying for political asylum.
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Promoting public awareness of the need for fairness in immigration policy particularly as it relates to the rights of same-sex bi-national couples in the United States who seek equal immigration rights; Providing information regarding political issues relating to gay immigration equality issues, rights and policy.