County Employees Among 10 Charged With Immigration Fraud

Chicago - Ten people -- including a North Side immigration attorney and several current or former Cook County employees -- were charged Monday in a federal indictment with allegedly participating in a marriage fraud conspiracy.

A 14-count indictment was unsealed after five of the defendants were arrested Monday morning by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, according to a U.S. Attorney’s office release.

The indictment claims Maria F. Cruz and others recruited U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, primarily Filipinos, who entered into at least 15 sham marriages to evade immigration laws, the release said.

Foreign nationals paid Cruz about $3,000 to arrange for them to marry U.S. citizens and in return, Cruz promised U.S. citizens that in return for marrying a foreign national, they would receive $3,000 after the marriage and about $300 to $350 monthly until the foreign national obtained U.S citizenship, the release said.

Cruz, 49, formerly of Chicago and currently living in America Canyon, Calif., was arrested on an initial complaint in the case in late August and released on a $200,000 secured bond. She was a Cook County Traffic Court employee until this past summer when she moved to California, according to the release.

In addition to the 15 fraudulent marriages listed in the indictment, Cruz allegedly attempted to arrange two additional marriages between individuals and ICE agents during an undercover portion of the investigation, the release said.

Among the five defendants arrested Monday were Manny Aguja, 53, of Chicago, an immigration attorney with an office at 3144 W. Montrose Ave.; and two of his employees -- twin brother Marc Aguja, also 53, of Chicago; and Celeste Ligutan-Lopez, 36, of Chicago.

Also arrested Monday were Keisha McGary, 33, of Chicago and Eugene Wilson, 30, of Chicago. Both are Cook County employees, according to the release.

The Aguja brothers, Ligutan-Lopez, McGary and Wilson were scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon, the release said.

Cruz and the remaining four defendants will be ordered to appear for arraignment at a later date. They include Maria Cyd Adriatico-Fernandez, 53 of Oak Brook; and three other Cook County Traffic Court employees: Sonia Maki, 43, of Chicago; DeShawn Barksdale, 39, of Chicago; and Latrice Wilson (Eugene Wilson's sister), 37, of Chicago.

The releases said their employment with the county did not play any role in the scheme.

Each defendant was charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. Some were also charged with marriage or immigration fraud, including Cruz, who faces 10 counts of marriage fraud. The Aguja brothers were also charged with conspiracy to induce foreign nationals to reside illegally in the U.S.

Conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and marriage fraud carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, the release said. Other immigration fraud counts carry a maximum penaty of 10 years in prison and a $250,00 fine.