marriage scam

[jamall 1]

Thai Ginger owner accused in sham marriage scam

SEATTLE (AP) - The owner of a chain of popular Thai restaurants in the Seattle area has been indicted on charges she paid her workers tens of thousands of dollars to enter into sham marriages with her relatives, allowing them to stay in the U.S.

Varee Bradford, who operates five Thai Ginger restaurants in Seattle, Redmond, Issaquah and Bellevue, was arrested Tuesday on charges of immigration fraud conspiracy and three counts of immigration document fraud. She was released on personal recognizance Tuesday afternoon after making an initial appearance in U.S. District Court.

A grand jury indictment cites four marriages between Thai Ginger workers and Thai nationals, three of whom were Bradford's relatives. Bradford paid three of the workers $10,000 to more than $20,000, while another, who had recently been promoted to management, received a loan of $3,780, the indictment said.

Three of the workers were men and one was a woman. They were told the marriages would only have to last two years, until the Thai nationals received their green cards.

Also charged was Porramin Tangchaiwanna, who is accused of helping to set up a fifth marriage between an undercover immigration agent and a Thai woman last year. He remained in custody on an immigration hold and could face deportation.

A man who answered the phone at Thai Ginger's office said he would give Bradford's attorney a message from The Associated Press, but the message was not immediately returned Tuesday.

Bradford faces a maximum prison term of 5 years on the conspiracy charge and 10 years on each of the document fraud counts. Tangchaiwanna, also charged with immigration fraud conspiracy, faces up to 5 years.

The indictment includes a criminal forfeiture allegation, meaning the government is seeking to seize any property Bradford may have purchased with proceeds from criminal activity.

Lorie Dankers, a Seattle spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said she could not discuss the immigration status of any of Bradford's relatives

[jamall 1]

Comments from other people

Is Varee Bradford a U.S. citizen? Can her citizenship be revoked? Knowingly trying to commit immigration fraud should have a penalty of loss of citizenship, and automatic deportation without possibility of a lesser charge.

Send them all back to Thailand!

Comments from other people

I'm all for others wanting to live in the US be allowed to AS LONG AS they do it legally. It would also be nice if they could speak the language, especially when dealing with the public. This kind of thing however needs to stop.

Regardless of what happens to Varee Bradford, I wonder what will happen to all involved... the employees of her restaurants and her family members

[meowmeowmeow 1]

sucks to be her...what an idiot.

[jamall 1]

wow this mockery of marriage should not be tolerated! How dare these people insult the institution of marriage in this manner, it's a sacred union!

[jamall 1]

She has it all basically, and is accused of throwing it all away. Stunning. And they are going after her restaurants as part of it.

I love it when lawbreakers are caught.

this happens more often than people think she just got caught

Wonder how this gal got into the country herself.....

[Aniomaman 0]

She deserves whatever comes her way!

[jamall 1]

"The indictment includes a criminal forfeiture allegation, meaning the government is seeking to seize any property Bradford may have purchased with proceeds from criminal activity."" And how exactly is she profiting from this? Now and days the Federal Government will look for any loop hole to steal our property.

Such bullsh** . My lunch time decision is made for tomorrow

[jamall 1]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=203040&hl=

[Krikit 1,164]

I wonder if her thoughts on the risk factor have changed since she first decided to pursue the criminal life?

[jamall 1]

immigration fraud conspiracy and three counts of immigration document fraud.

[jamall 1]

She deserves whatever comes her way!

yes you right

[Otto 83]

Probably much more commonplace than we'd like to believe...

[jamall 1]

Probably much more commonplace than we'd like to believe...

what do you mean by that ??

[Aymsgirl 0]

I say give it to them! This is why immigration is so freaking hard because of nuts like this!

[jamall 1]

I say give it to them! This is why immigration is so freaking hard because of nuts like this!

%100 right