Military Members Fake Marriages for Cash

Many young sailors struggle to make ends meet as they are low on the ranking totem pole. Justin James Robbins was one of these sailors. While aboard the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge, two fellow sailors told Robbins an easy way to get extra money from the government. They explained that he could stage a phony marriage with a foreign national and triple his salary rate and get housing allowance. They also explained that he could get extra money if he recruited others to enter into phony marriages. Prosecution said that 26 year-old Jermar Jones was the ringleader of the conspiracy on the Kearsarge which included four fake marriages between soldiers and foreigners seeking to remain in the United States.

Jones is on trial in the U.S. District Court here in Norfolk. He is facing 11 counts of conspiracy, marriage fraud, false claims, witness tampering and making false statements. Robbins did testify that he easily made the extra money and that he met his wife from Nigeria on their wedding day on October 13, 2005 at Norfolk City Hall. Robbins never had sexual relations with her and never lived with her. His wife returned to New York City where she had been living and eventually obtained a green card. She was arrested earlier this month on charges related to the 2009 indictment against Robbins and the others. Robbins pleaded guilty to theft of government property and must serve one year in prison and repay the government $57,700. The defense is trying to prove that Jones was not the ring leader of these phony marriages but with Robbins' as a witness and another witness who testified that she paid Jones $6,000 to arrange a phony marriage does not help Jones's case of innocence. Most of the sailors have since been discharged, but it is not clear if any of them remain in the service.

If you or someone you know has been charged with criminal activity, please contact your local Hampton Roads Attorney Michael S. Weisberg. He is located in downtown Norfolk and has been practicing law for over 30 years. Please call today and set up your initial consultation.