Ammon News - LAFAYETTE, LA - United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Emad Edin Yousef Abdallah, 29, of Jordan, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to marriage fraud.

According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, the defendant admitted that he entered into two fraudulent marriages to change his immigration status and evade the immigration laws of the United States. The March 3, 2009 marriage ended in divorce in June 2010, and Abdallah married another woman on June 27, 2011. He admitted that the second marriage also took place in part to change his immigration status and evade immigration laws.

Abdallah faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for marriage fraud. A sentencing of July 12, 2013 was set.

United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. McManus is prosecuting the case.

*KATC.com