Tampa woman gets prison for immigration marriage fraud

TAMPA

Woman is sentenced in marriage fraud case

A woman who arranged at least 10 fraudulent marriages that were intended to let Jamaican nationals gain citizenship in the United States has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison.

Cassandra Hamilton, 55, of Tampa was sentenced by a judge Thursday for engaging in a conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. She pleaded guilty in April.

For years, Hamilton was paid to arrange marriages between U.S. and Jamaican citizens so that the Jamaicans could obtain residency and citizenship in this country, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

"Hamilton conspired to circumvent and exploit our nation's immigration laws for personal financial gain," said a statement from Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for Homeland Security Investigations in Tampa. "Her crimes have also resulted in Jamaican nationals who are now permanently barred from obtaining lawful permanent status in the United States."