30 arrested in sham marriage scheme run through Queens busin

30 arrested in sham marriage scheme run through Queens business

By Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Writer | June 7, 2006

NEW YORK (AP) -- A former U.S. immigration office worker who joined with others to make more than $1 million by producing hundreds of fake green cards was among 30 people charged when the sham marriage scam was broken up Wednesday, officials said.

Phillip A. Browne, a U.S. immigration office worker who resigned in November, allegedly conspired with his sister from April 2001 until November to provide the permanent residence documents in exchange for fees ranging from $8,000 to $16,000.

The sister, Beverly Mozer-Browne, owned and operated a Queens business, Help Preparers Professional Services, that claimed to offer financial and legal help when its primary business was actually to provide the bogus documents, according to an indictment in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

Browne, 40, and Mozer-Browne, 49, had residences in Brooklyn and Kissimmee, Fla., authorities said. They were awaiting appearances in court. It was unclear who would represent them.

Authorities said 27 of 30 people were arrested Wednesday and three were being sought.

Prosecutors said the business paid U.S. citizens to enter sham marriages with some applicants for green cards while it produced phony documents for other clients to indicate a marriage to a U.S. citizen had occurred sometime in the past.

The scam also relied on the creation of fraudulent birth certificates and fictitious letters from employers and banks, the indictment said.

Browne, a district adjudication officer for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office, formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Services, eased approval of phony applications by generating green cards without the required interview, prosecutors said.

He had worked for the agency for about five years.

Authorities said 13 of those charged worked with Mozer-Browne at her business. Two defendants helped her find U.S. citizens willing to enter sham marriages, while two others were U.S. citizens who accepted money to enter a fake marriage, they said.

Another 11 defendants allegedly obtained green cards fraudulently by submitting forged marriage certificates and phony financial information.

Browne and Mozer-Browne were charged with fraud and laundering the illegal proceeds by dividing the proceeds among several bank accounts and by buying several properties, most in Florida and one in Pocono Township, Pa.

The government sought the forfeiture of at least $1 million and seven properties.

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