Greenbrier County, WV (WOAY) – An Indian man has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.
29-year-old Aakash Prakash Makwana was unlawfully living in Ronceverte. Makwana confirmed that he did this as part of a plan to marry a U.S. citizen to evade immigration laws.
Court documents and statements confirm that Makwana came to the U.S. On a J-1 non-immigrant visit on November 23, 2019. He worked in hotels, hospitality, and culinary services.
Makwana stated he knew the visa was valid for only a year and did nothing when it expired on November 24, 2020.
Around August of 2021, Makwana planned with others to marry a U.S. citizen for $10,000 so he could apply for a lawful permanent residence status, or a green card.
On September 3, 2021, he married a U.S. citizen and falsified a residential lease to appear as if he and the citizen lived together. He also added them to bank accounts and utility bills.
Makwana stated he committed identity theft when he added the name and a false signature of the resident property manager without their consent.
When the marriage plan failed, Makwana filed a Form I-360, which is a petition for Amerasian, widow, or special immigrant with U.S. citizenship at the Department of Homeland Security.
He lied on the form, stating that he was abused physically and emotionally by his spouse.
He did this to stay in the United States and for a better chance of getting a green card.
Makwana will be sentenced on September 26 of this year. He will face a mandatory two years in prison, up to one year supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. He could also be forced to leave the country.
The U.S. citizen Makwana married, 28-year-old Kalee Ann Huff, pleaded guilty on February 20th to marriage fraud and perjury.
She will be sentenced on June 12.
Huff’s brother-in-law, 33-year-old Joseph Sanchez, pleaded guilty on January 29 to his involvement in the immigration marriage scheme.
Sanchez will be sentenced on May 30th.
