Last defendant is sentenced in Idaho marriage fraud scheme

BOISE, Idaho – A 30-year-old Peruvian citizen was sentenced Thursday to more than 12 months in prison and fined $1,000 for participating in a marriage fraud scheme disrupted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Jenny Sedano-Vilcapoma, 30, of Ketchum, Idaho, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. She admitted to conspiring to enter into a fraudulent marriage with a U.S. citizen for the sole purpose of obtaining immigration benefits. She further admitted that she applied for immigration benefits using her illegitimate marriage as the basis.

HSI special agents found that Sedan-Vilcapoma aided three other Peruvian citizens living in Blaine County, Idaho, in their efforts to enter into fraudulent marriages with U.S. citizens.

Sedano-Vilcapoma is the sixth and final defendant sentenced as a result of this investigation. In April, Rudy Isla-Mejico, 38, of Hailey was sentenced to five years of probation and a $1,000 fine for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. Isla-Mejico admitted assisting Sedano-Vilcapoma in recruiting individuals to enter into fraudulent marriages to obtain immigration benefits.

Four other defendants, all U.S. citizens, were convicted of making false statements in an immigration application as a result of their participation in the marriage fraud scheme. They admitted entering into fraudulent marriages in exchange for money.

In October, Anthony Joseph Scafidi, 31, of Hailey, Idaho, was sentenced to three years of probation and fined $5,000. Joshua Lee Buell, 30, and Daniel Casado, 34, both of Ketchum, were sentenced to five years of probation and 60 hours of community service in July 2011. Buell was fined $5,000 and Casado $3,500. In May 2011, Bryon Thomas Bain, 34, of Ketchum, was ordered to pay a $3,500 fine.