Defendants Sentenced in Visa Fraud and Conspiracy Case

Defendants created a sham marriage to gain a US Green Card

HAGATNA, Guam - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided valuable assistance to an investigation that led to the sentencings of Jung Hoon Song and Bonnie Jo C. Quichocho, who faked marriage as a scheme to fraudulently gain lawful permanent residence in the United States. The U.S. attorney's office made the announcement.

Song, 49, from the Republic of Korea, was sentenced to one year of probation after pleading guilty to visa fraud. He was ordered to pay a $500 fine and a $100 special assessment fee and report to immigration officials for potential deportation proceedings.

Quichocho, 50, from Guam, was sentenced to serve six months of probation and pay a $500 fine and $100 special assessment fee after pleading guilty to one charge of conspiracy to commit illegal entry by false or misleading representation.

USCIS played a vital role in the investigation, supporting law enforcement and agency partners in their efforts to uncover discrepencies in the defendants' accounts of their marriage.

The defendants' conspiracy spanned January 2008 to May 2022. They married on Dec. 24, 2011, and then filed a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and a Form G-325A, Biographic Information, with USCIS. Quichocho and Song misrepresented in these documents that they resided together in Guam. The documents were filed for Song to obtain a Permanent Resident Card, also known as a Green Card, that would enable him to live and work in the United States. Based on these petitions, Song obtained conditional permanent resident status on June 7, 2012, along with a Green Card valid for two years.

On May 7, 2014, Quichocho and Song jointly submitted a petition (Form I-751) to remove the conditions on Song's permanent resident status, again falsely representing that they lived together. In fact, the defendants never resided together at any time before or after their marriage. They made the false statements to obtain immigration benefits for Song. The defendants divorced on May 17, 2018.

"USCIS will relentlessly pursue marriage fraud to protect the lawful immigration process," stated USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler. "This outcome highlights a great partnership within federal law enforcement and our commitment to ensure that immigration benefits aren't given to those who commit fraud against the United States."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosetta L. San Nicholas prosecuted the case in the District of Guam. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations - Guam and USCIS' Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate.

To report suspected immigration benefit fraud or abuse to USCIS, please use the USCIS Tip Form.

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