When I saw this news story in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, I knew I had to share it:

'I do' becomes 'no you don't' in feds' probe of marriages
Sarah Langbein

Sentinel Staff Writer

August 30, 2007



Vladimir Danilov's wife never stepped inside his home, even after they married.

After all, the 40-year-old Danilov was living there with a girlfriend half his age.

Malkhaz Kapanadze's bride would have needed to board a plane to see him. He was living in Brooklyn with his other wife and their child.

These Volusia County marriages -- and many others, investigators say -- were more like business transactions than stories of happily ever after.

They were at the heart of a federal investigation into a Central Florida couple accused of arranging marriages between U.S. citizens and immigrants who wanted the fast -- and fraudulent -- path to citizenship.

Ten thousand dollars bought a spouse and a shotgun wedding, records show. The citizenship suitors were discovered at Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Prostitutes and day laborers were bought off for $1,000 up front and $300 a month until a green card came for the strangers they wedded.

At least five men, from Israel, Uzbekistan and Georgia, have been prosecuted for illegal entry into the country based on the marriage scams. They've been sentenced to time served and given unsupervised probation, provided they leave the United States.

The couple suspected of arranging the scams, Larry and Natalia Humm, are now divorced. Larry Humm, a former Volusia County deputy sheriff, has struck a deal with federal authorities to cooperate in the prosecution of others -- including his wife, according to court filings earlier this month.

Larry Humm remains free, while Natalia Humm, his Russian-born ex, is behind bars. Neither could be reached for comment.

Security worries

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has established specific task forces that target this type of activity. Barbara Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for the agency's Southern office, said these marriages "pose a severe threat" to public safety and security.

A five-year probe in California resulted in "Operation Newlywed Game," in which more than 50 people were indicted on suspicion of arranging sham marriages for Chinese and Vietnamese nationals. It is thought to be the largest marriage-fraud bust in the United States.

"At the end of the day, they're trying to circumvent the law," Gonzalez said.

It also happens to be the fastest way to get a green card, said Carl Shusterman, a Los Angeles immigration attorney who used to work for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The process can take up to 20 years in other cases, he said.

It's unclear from court documents how this alleged scheme began, but it appears the Humms made their money from word-of-mouth advertising -- both here and abroad.

Soon-to-be couples were introduced in Natalia Humm's Daytona Beach office, Power of Attorney Inc., according to court records. There was no courting, no wooing and typically little time to make each other's acquaintance. They'd travel to the Volusia County Courthouse to obtain their marriage certificates and return to the office for a sparsely attended wedding ceremony, in which Natalia Humm officiated in her role as a notary public, court records show.

After the I-dos, the newlyweds posed for pictures that they would later use as proof to immigration officials of their commitment. The women were instructed to take their husbands' last names for purposes of Social Security cards and change their drivers license addresses to those of their spouses.

To further make the marriage look real, they were told to leave clothing and personal belongings at each other's homes and to set up a joint bank account, according to federal court documents.

Money was exchanged the day of the ceremony. Typically, the bride would receive $1,000. A recruiter would usually be paid a $500 finder's fee. Sometimes the money came in a brown envelope. In one case, a bride was given a 1999 Dodge Intrepid in return for her continued participation in the scam, according to court records.

For every month forward, the foreigners would pay their citizen spouses $300, a marriage rent of sorts. The payments would end once a green card was issued.

In the meantime, the husband and wife rarely saw each other, unless it was for a meeting with government officials, documents show.

An end to the ruse

When immigration officials arrived at the home of Danilov's wife on Sept. 14, 2006, it had been a while since she had spoken to her supposed husband. The special agents knew that, but they didn't let on.

The woman said she and her husband were going through some "rough times" and that they were living apart, court records show. She told them Danilov was at work and she had talked to him earlier that day.

Problem was, Danilov had been in jail since the night before on an outstanding warrant for grand theft.

When she was confronted with that information, the woman confessed.

She told them of the fake marriage and monthly payments, and she showed them a single sheet of notebook paper with information she was supposed to memorize, according to court documents.

Written across the top was Danilov's name. It was a list of basic biographical information -- birth date, son's name and birthplace -- and likes and dislikes -- his favorite color is white and he hates seafood.

"I recognize my mistake," Danilov said in federal court last year at his arraignment. "I get married to a U.S. citizen to be legally in the U.S."

Eleven days later, federal search warrants were executed on the Humms' office and home. Natalia Humm told authorities about "her involvement in marriage fraud and the fact that she knew that what she was doing was against the law," according to court documents.

Investigators estimate the couple had ties to more than 25 but fewer than 99 fraudulent marriages, according to Larry Humm's plea agreement. In one case, the couple divorced before a green card was issued because they feared getting into legal trouble.

It didn't help. The husband, Israeli citizen Erez Alul, was prosecuted and sentenced to three years' unsupervised probation -- provided he left the country and didn't return.

Sarah Langbein can be reached at slangbein@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5020.

Copyright © 2007, Orlando Sentinel

To jail and throw away the key

do you ever wonder how many fraudulent people have passed through VJ? Just makes you wonder.....hmmmmmmm

Yes, I do!

I also see many which makes me think 'that poor USC doesn't know what's gonna hit em'

yeah.... creeps!

I doubt that many. The people organizing these marriages know the system inside and out already. And the people participating in the sham marriage just sign where they're told to sign and pose for the photos.

It's why we can't have nice things.

I just wonder how it is that they can get through everything,when you look at what we have to go through to prove to USICS the our relationships are for real how can the frauds get through without being detected and not only that but the time it takes to get it done hummm!
Gotta love our countries, we are all ligit here ( at least I think and hope) we all want to go home!!!
So come on USICS push us through the way it looks like you did with the frauds!!!

Yes, but using a VJ account could be just another one of their ruses to appear legit...know what I mean?

You're right though...things like this are IMHO just one of the reasons it's tough on the ones doing it the right way. *sigh*

I am pretty sure that the USCs in most VJ relationships are probably legit, but you have to wonder sometimes.... well, just look at the Effects of Major Family changes section...

But in any case the process isn't really all that thorough. Prove you've met in person once and have a continuing relationship, which can be met by a pretty low bar.... sometimes you have to have met in person three times. If it's a really tough consulate.

About 30% according to some stats I've seen somewhere.

Wow, that's a pretty high percentage.

Well I think the stats included couples who actually wanted to be together, but wouldn't
have gotten married otherwise. Not exactly what you'd call "fraudulent", but immigration
did play a role.

Don't even get me started on those things. I get so upset when I hear about stuff like. I think there should be a straight line that the only way you can marry a foreigner is by either applying for a K1 / K3/CR-1. Everything else should be made illegal without any exceptions. I personally do not believe in 'spontaneous' weddings while a non-USC is in the US on some sort of tourist or student visa.

That sure raised my usually low blood pressure now.

Well thank God the law doesn't yet agree with this brand of ignorance.

"I do not believe in spontanteous weddings while a non USC is in the US on some sort of tourist or student visa" - isn't that like saying you don't believe the sky is blue? Doesn't change the fact that the sky IS blue.

(And do you honestly think that even if AOS from within the country was outlawed, that people would defaud on K1s or K3s or CR/IR-1s? No, the fraud on those would just skyrocket.)

I get upset when I heard about this stuff, too. It doesn't mean that every single person who marries and adjusts status is trying to defraud the government.

This story made me pretty angry too... Illegal immigration in general makes me LIVID because it is the reason all of us have so much red tape in getting to live with our spouses.

I disagree with you though that spontaneous marriages are bogus. That's a crazy accusation and I'm glad they're not illegal

Just to add a little something here since I get everyone upset with my last post (plus we are all here to express our opinions, I did address anyone personally and did not mean to offend anyone).

I believe (and no, I don't have any statistics to prove it, just my opinion) that if you are really planning a life together you usually don't just 'go for it' without any long-term plans. Getting married is not like buying a pair of shoes that look nice. Marriage is a commitment that has long-term consequences, whether it works out or not. In my opinion (and yes, I'm sorry if I upset someone here again) people who are getting married (mainly while on a tourist visa or VWP) are taking the easy way out and this option is a big loop hole for many who are just getting married for the sake of coming to the US or in some cases, money.

And.. this has nothing to do with ignorance. Why were the K1, K3/CR-1 visas established in the first place? Why not let everyone get married as they like and live wherever they feel like? It's a complex matter and I strongly believe that it should be either one way or another and the grey area should not be an option.

Do you understand spontaneous marriage? Meaning you planned it AFTER you entered. My husband met me after he entered. We planned a small wedding. We had a date.

MANY people on tourist visas are overstays. Student visas are in the country for YEARS. The idea of meeting someone is really that crazy to you? The's asinine.

Fling stone inna pigpen, whoeva bawl out, ah dem ie lick....

Let's all agree to disagree...It's apparent that common ground will not be achieved in the last posts on this thread.

I think you might be right. That's what happens when emotional opinions are challeneged by what is actually allowed/legal avenues. (as we see all over VJ)

This article makes me mad too. I teach adult ESOL classes a couple times a week and if I had a nickel for every conversation I overhead about visas/immigration/marriage to USCs I wouldn't have to work again - for the rest of my life. One of my students showed us pictures of her trip to visit her sister in NYC. She pointed out her sister in one picture with her husband AND her boyfriend. My student even said that her sister married one guy for the GC, and that the other guy in the picture is her real boyfriend. She said that they took that picture to show immigration that "hey, look, even my sister visiting from FL met my husband." This happened the day of, or day after, our AOS interview. It makes me so pissed! My husband and I went through so much to be together and to hear people talk about AOS interviews as just a way of becoming legal in the country makes me hot !!!

However, I know there is nothing that I can do about it - this is a business. I just try not to get angry. But .

And then, what's more valid? A relationship where they met once in person, or one where they've known each other for years through school and/or work? F

I dont think there are many members here who are in a "business" relationship. but I cant help but think there are some USCs who will be getting used or played. We'd be naive to think that everyone in VJ was 100% legit. I know many people here would be upset by this revalation, of sorts. But, C'mon.....we've all seen profiles here that just didn't make much sense. Feeling guilty???

Precisely and well said! And Exactly why I think this getting married while on a tourist visa or whatever visa is just ripe for fraud which will only make it harder on the rest of us following the rules and laws later on in the years to come, I truly feel for all those people that will be getting married now and in the future, it will only become harder and more cost prohibitive.

So I suppose based on your constant promoting of tourist visa or overstay visa marriages to US citizens your spouse was here in the USA illegally and overstayed his/her visa also? And then we all wonder what is wrong with immigration system, the gray area loopholes need to be closed forever and everyone follow the rules and procedures of one way to marry and then that would end all this fraud, which it is obvious it is going on along with those that are truly legit.

Commenting to members about LEGAL options available to them is NOT "promoting tourist visa or overstay marriages". There are circumstance in which this is a legitimate legal option, and there are circumstances where this would not be. Have you been able to figure out the nuance between the two yet, instead of blanketing them with your "someone took my cookie" rhetoric?

Same misinformation, day after day ZQT.

zqt....

Has anyone ever pointed out to you that the mere qualifer 'spouse' creates many 'loopholes' that other immigrants don't have? Like your 'spouse' can get a visa to enter this country IMMEDIATELY without having to wait in line for an immigrant visa number?

It's the title 'spouse' that creates the fraud. You don't have to file for AOS stateside to be a fraudster. Many fraudsters file for visas.

I think the thing that frosts my cookies is that these "criminals" (hey, they're breaking the law, so let's say it how it is) bog down the system and make it longer for us to go through the process...

I hear ya. Where's my K-1 !?!

Amen sister, preach it, more than we care to know, it is going on and a serious problem. Which is why all of us that are legitimate legal law abiding couples get to suffer and pay the price with USCIS and all the steps, sadly the criminals, scammers or fraudsters once again ruin it for the honest, loving couples.

Oh really......

FINALLY a voice of reason and a ray of light! Right on Steve'sGirl, you said it. But watch out for there will be a witch hunt for me or you and anyone that agrees with your thoughts, I am learning that if you do not agree with a select group of OP on VJ you are consider the minister of disinformation or the VJ devil!

People like that are the reason hundreds of thousands of us are alone every night for a year or more without our loved ones. It's people like this that make the statement, "I love you" not matter as much as tax returns, joint bank accounts, etc. It's a damn shame.

5 years investigation and all they came up with was 50 fraudulent marriages. Wow. That is not very many. They are either very incompetent, or sham marriages are not as common as people think.

They're incompetent. I live in Orlando and know this happens all the time.

The crazy thing is these 'marriages' will continue no matter what. Few will be caught but the majority will continue to get away with it.

One of my friends is in one (he thinks he isn't...but I'm sure before the ink is dry on the document lifting conditions, she will be packed and out the door...)...I hope to God I'm not right, for his sake...

I don't think this necessarily shows how incompetetant USCIS is at weeding out fraudulant marriages.

it wasn't the USCIS conducting the investigation, it was a US customs enforcement task force or some such, basically people who's only job was to find people running visa scams. Seems like all they would have had to do is go undercover in an ESOL class