Joseph Sanchez, a 33-year-old resident of Fairbury, Illinois, has admitted guilt in an immigration marriage fraud conspiracy. The case was heard in Beckley, West Virginia.
Court documents reveal that around August 2021, while residing in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, Sanchez was approached by a foreign national working at a nearby convenience store. The foreign national proposed paying Sanchez to find a woman willing to marry him for the purpose of obtaining lawful permanent resident status or a Green Card. Sanchez agreed to this arrangement for $10,000—half payable upon marriage and the remainder once the Green Card was secured.
Sanchez involved his sister-in-law in the scheme by arranging her marriage to the foreign national. He informed her about the financial benefits tied to this arrangement. Prior interactions between his sister-in-law and the foreign national were limited to encounters at his convenience store.
The wedding took place in September 2021 in White Sulphur Springs. In March 2023, Sanchez accompanied his sister-in-law and the foreign national to Pittsburgh for an interview with U.S. immigration officials. This meeting aimed to convince officials of the legitimacy of their marriage and relationship but ultimately failed as the application was denied.
Sanchez is set for sentencing on May 30, 2025. He faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
United States Attorney Will Thompson praised the investigative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn oversaw the hearing with Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuting.
Further details can be accessed through PACER under Case No. 5:24-cr-198 or via the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for Southern District of West Virginia.