33 charged with sham marriages for benefits

While this case is being brought to light, some may forget that this type of thing has been going on since there has been a Navy. If you look at historical accounts, you will hear and read in those accounts that as long as our sailors have been hitting forgin ports, there have been women who know that they can be their ticket to a better life in the U,S. Is it right or wrong?, i wont get into the whole debate about getting a little more money when you are a junior enlisted man, but will offer this. I think bthat in a good way the post 9/11 era has made us more aware, that we need to take better care of the men and women who prodly sreve us in the Navy..

Anybody who knows IRINA KUZIMINOVA please help to bond her out of jail so she can fight her case!! I do not have enough $$$ to do that. I am very sad for everything that is going on. Let's establish Russian/Ukr/Belarussian community and fight for our rights like African Americans and Mexicans did. Nobody kicks out Spanish population - they give them benefits instead! Because they were fighting for their rights! Americans do not know that all the girls on the list were working three jobs and PAYING TAXES SO AMERICAN CITIZENS COULD GET BENEFITS! If nobody will work in this country and just live off benefits - what will happen? I am Russian. I have paid thousands and thousands of taxes. I have not received ANY benefits, so I was never a burden to American taxpayers. I have paid over $20,000 to ODU, i.e. State school. I am starting medical school in August - and I cannot get any scholarships, althoug I have a green card and good grades...

We should help each other.Irina lost her brother half of the year ago. She has a master degree in journalism. She is very smart and intelligent. She is very good person. This country is so great because of the immigrants who built it. If anyone

Pointing the finger for the country's problems at the illegal community and trying to eliminate it makes as much sense as pointing the finger at the rest of America, and trying to eliminate it. Less, in fact, because there’s a higher percentage of good, hardworking “illegal” immigrants than there are Americans. And when they get a status here, they outshine everyone. I know this from having met lots of these people, and simply by a quick glance at the history of this very country, which was BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP by illegal immigrants. Except they also murdered the original inhabitants…

This country has some problems, but I wish people would stop using the entire illegal immigrant community as a scapegoat. I also understand that people want to see SOMETHING done, productive or not, but this witch hunt on immigrants is not helping anyone, especially us Americans.

I am from Eastern Europe myself. I came to the USA on a J-1 visa, fell in love with a Russian guy (he had American citizenship), and we got married. It was a TRUE MARRIAGE, but the guy turned out to have a bad temper. He was abusing me physically and verbally, but I was highly dependant on him. As a result, I developed depression and generalized anxiety disorder. I finally left him even before receiving a green. When I filed a petition of abused spouse, it was REJECTED by immigration 3 TIMES. They did believe that I was abused by him, but they didn't believe that it was a true marriage as I wasn't included on the deed for the house. I had tons of evidence. I had to file another case, and finally was given a chance to speak in the court. It took me 5 years to get my green card; I spent $25,000-30,000 on lawyers; I developed depression and GAD. What procedures are you talking about???

Contrary to so many other posts on here, about how the military is paid so little, that this can be used an excuse for what these men have done. There is no alibi, or excuse, permissable, as this could easily be considered a traitorous act against the security of our United States. I am also certain that this is probably only the tip of an iceberg, as phoney marriages, to protect illegal immigrants, are probably going on all across the United States.

Regardless, this is a very serious offense, and I am hoping it is treated as such.

Illegal immigrants are an immmense problem in our United States, costing American taxpayers far more than even the Wars in Iraq, and Afghanistan. Although the majority of the problem comes from Mexico, and South America, illegals, are illegals, and it matters not where they are from. They all have to be forced to leave our country.

I agree with Katz. This type of abuse is just pennies in the bucket compared to other major, more costly issues facing us as a nation. Considering that our enlisted members are paid peanuts a day to survive in an ever more expensive economy, what do you expect?

And now about me being mad...I cannot believe that some comments can be so negative? When people stopped being supportive and became so judgmental? Comment by Alexvb surprised me the most. I happen to be Russian. There are as many patriotic people in Russia, as there are in America. We do have souls and religion. But... every country has bad and good people and let's all be politically correct and won't generalize because it may sound a bit close-minded. I am VB local as well and happened to see these arrested girls couple times (Eastern European community is not big in our area). Most of these girls are young, kind, beautiful, and smart (all of them already have or pursuing bachelor's degree). They live, work and try to achieve something greater in life.
I hope my remarks didn't offend anyone's feelings. I certainly didn't mean it.

Perhaps the military should pay enlisted members what they believe they are worth and not pay them differently based on marital status or housing situation? No one else works that way. They're asking for abuse.

Actually, I have two equally strong feelings now: feeling sorry and mad...
I feel very sorry for those grooms and brides. I don't think they were realizing how serious their crime was. If one put it in perspective, it was a crime against the government...but, I second the comment below and just put a rhetorical question out there: how many marriages in America are actually shams? Ha, if we speak about sailors in particular, how many of them marry American girls just get the same benefits as they got marrying foreign girl. No one ever is going to investigate the marriage where both people are US citizens. No one ever is going to press charges against him or her. Why? Exactly, because the whole pressing charges deal is about guys helping foreign girls get their green cards. And by mentioning tax money government is just trying to seek support from the public on this matter. Of course, there are legitimate ways to get a green card but they take many years of waiting, reapplying and so on. Did anyone notice how old guys and girls are? They are very young and they wanted to get green card faster, easier... The whole their problem is that they are really fascinated with life in America,

If you have to be in love with your spouse to be married, there are a lot of marriages out their that are shams. The problem I have with these arrests is that the state cannot define hard and fast rules to show what constitutes a sham marriage. Do you have to live together? Can you marry for tax benefits? Can you marry someone you don't love because you are having his baby? Do you have to consummate the marriage? What if it started out as a sham, then they fell in love? How can the prosecutors prove that two people are not "married enough?"

I just wish all of this effort and energy was put into finding, prosecuting and deporting ALL illegal aliens. Especially from the south...Oh but wait, those don't count, Huh?

Seeing this through the lens of a Naval Officer, and as one of these sailors is in my division, and having been there during his counseling on this subject, and having watched him break down over it, and seeing how he is one of my finest sailors, and seeing how he is still in police custody, I recommend that all of you reserve your judgment on this issue. The ramifications of this case are greater than you may think, and trials have not occurred, so please, let’s not judge just yet. To call into question the actions of these sailors is to question what makes a marriage legitimate: are American citizens allowed to marry foreign nationals? Are military members allowed the same rights in marriage as an American citizen? Do military members deserve the pay allocated by Congress for their dependents? Furthermore, what makes a marriage legitimate? Is it where the spouses live? Military members sometimes have no option in co-location. Or is a marriage to be judged on the magnitude of love displayed between spouses? Would it be fair for the government to pass judgment over every American’s marriage to determine if they are being taxed properly, based on the status of their de

Those of you pouting about military pay and benefits...please feel free to enlist and partake.

It is more important to track and deport these illegal aliens for getting married than it is to track and deport other illegal aliens who commit crimes? Why don't we give them amnesty the same as they want to for the Hispanic population who are costing more of the taxpayers money with free health care and schooling than these Eastern European brides. Just a thought.

And no one else. My wife is in the Navy so I see how the pay goes. I also know that if she were in the Private Sector at the Port of VA or the one being built in NC she would easily make 30 to 50% more then she makes now. This is not a complaint, just stating the facts.

I do think that these people and others that engage in sham marriages should be held accountable but my comment was to Chuck who thinks that the Military people have it on easy street because of a Housing Allowance... Anyone reading anything more into my statements is just looking to argue...

We're looking at a few service people who collectively are costing taxpayers pennies when compared to members of Congress who vote themselves huge payraises and their tax paying constituents are paying the price.

Rein in the Congressional free ride and the no-compete contracts the White House continues to award in support of the Iraq war.... THEN go after the nickels and dimes.

Strange that all of the sailors listed that are attached to ships are serving aboard LHD's....Not that I know if there is any significance, but, merely an observation..Why weren't associated shore activities listed, or latest previous service aboard naval vessels?.. Maybe limited to LHD's...or just those 2 ships..

Military members who marry get less than $100 extra a month for the first dependent and nothing more for their other dependents. The benefit of the bogus marriages with immigrants is not the increase in their pay, but the money that the brides pay them for agreeing to do it. If you're crying because a married man in the military makes $40 more than you every two weeks, then you probably need to learn how to budget your money better. Consider this: for many legitimate (civilian) marriages, it is a lot easier for the spouse to work a stable job and bring home a second income. But for a military spouse who is constantly moving, this is not so easy. I don't think the little extra money they make as married service members is worth your whining, especially since they're fighting to protect your freedoms.

I served my country and went overseas and spent a ton of time away from home. But I would have never thought of stealing from the gov. in this way. Sure the pay sucks. but you sign up for it in the beginning. There is no one holding a gun to your head when you sign on the dotted line. Every one these days knows what you are getting into. It kills me these days to hear about people complain about how bad the pay is. you know going in what you are going to make and not make. If you can't do it on what they are going pay or how long you are going to be gone, then don't sign up. It's not for everyone.

I am all for illegal immigrants if they are working and consuming in the USA. Their bosses make a profit on their labor and their consumption benefits local business. However, marriage should not be tampered with unless its really love. Marriage fraud should be punished by sending the Navy guys to hard labor and the girls back where they come from with permanent denial into the USA and their photos, fingerprints etc should be put on a national website with the pedofiles.

I am a VB local working in Eastern Europe, its really bad here and most people don't really have souls, the soviet union managed to kill religion. These people will do anything to get out. It should not be easy and marriage interviews and green card by marriage should be very hard and long to get. Guys have to watch these girls, most of them have men back home who are cool with their girl marrying a chump for 5 years. In Eastern Europe, $700 per month is considered a really great salary. So you can imagine how motivating minimum wage is....

I like it when we catch the bad guys and girls and save tax payers dollars. This sweep needs to be expanded to catch the crooks abusing the welfare, food stamp, social security –SSI, DSI, WIC and all other social programs that had out free money.

Unfortunately this has been going on for alot of years. Just going after these guys who are trying to survive by getting a little more money to their low pay is not the answer. The commands have knowledge of these scams and coverup for their sailors constantly. When the commands are made to take responsibility like they were decades ago and wouldn't put up with their men and women lying and cheating instead of covering up for them then nothing will change. These raids are just scraping the tip of the iceberg.
This was going on, on my ex-husbands ship and the command would laugh about the russian brides. I was appalled at how cruel and callous these higher ups were and couldn't fathom why they just stood by and let it happen.

I continue to be surprised at the misconceptions and closed mindedness of our public when it comes to military matters. First off, let me say that while the rest of you are sitting at your job and having all the benefits of going home to your families or just home to your house every evening, not standing duty or being out to sea, I am underway training for your freedom to do be able to do this. When I spend 30 days at sea, I work 7 days a week, 12 hour days, the same goes for a 6-9 month deployment. Please explain how my pay is too much. As far as a 19 or 20 year old sailor spending money, why would you scrutinize what they spend their money on? They have earned their money AND their right to spend it how they see fit. I clearly see some of these posts as coming from people with too much time on their hands. On your way home tonight, ask yourself this; when was the last time you had only 5 days to get your affairs in order so you could spend 6 months or longer in the Persian Gulf defending freedom?

The topic of the article is not military pay/benefits. The topic is about fraud and a scam. It ia deplorable that people would take advantage of the situation, but you find that everywhere and in every socioeconomic class. Hopefully they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. For the others on here complaining of pay and benefits. Shame on you! Remember an E-1/E-2 is probably just a teenager. What do teenagers want? Nice cars. They may not be able to afford anything else but at 18 or 19 they don't care. The finest military in the world makes so much money that they qualify for WIC and food stamps. They chose to defend this country and put their lives at risk. A very meager housing allowence is part of the deal when you take the oath. If you think it is so wonderful leave your low paying job at McDonalds and you too can reap all the glorious rewards (6 months at sea, 24hr work days, living in the desert in a tent for 15 months etc, etc). Sign up or shut- never envy till you have marched in their boots!!

Housing allowance is one of the benefits of being in the service otherwise it wouldn't be worth it for the majority of the people to stay in the service, and then soon it wouldn't be an all voluntary force would it? The truth is, if you break it down by an hourly wage, the military salary doesn't even add up to minimum wage. There has to be some form of compensation to make up for the smaller pay. An average family of 4 who while not wanting to live above their means, who does in fact want to bring their family up in a reasonably safe neighborhood is looking at paying just over $1200 a month for a decent place to live. Now throw filling up the gas tank, car payments, insurance payments, food and the basic necessities of life on top of that. Money doesn't go really far does it? Not to mention actually being able to put something away for the future. Many military families live paycheck to paycheck as it is simply to live in the area and they are not wasteful with their money. What would you have us do? Live in squalor while our loved ones place their lives on the lines to protect yours? That being said, it does not excuse those who try to beat the system by illegal actions.

An E-5 electronics Tech with over 4 yrs makes 2171 monthly plus 1200 for housing allowance. Put this together you get around 40,400 annual.
The median salary for a civilian electronics tech with 5 yrs experience is 41,171.
The civilian does not leave his family for 6 months at a time, if he has to it means more $$$. If he works OT- more $$. The E-5 doesnot see that OT.
How do you figure the pay a military E-5 receives is not justified???

The stupidity of some make you all freak out. You all are so judgmental about a subject you obviously have no clue about. First off, housing is not "free". Their pay is based on different increments which helps them survive, like any other job, but civillian jobs simply do not break it down. They get paid the funds and then have to pay it back in housing. Are you separated from your families several months or longer per year to support them? They are all salary so the several 24 hour days work that they do goes underpaid. Along with putting their lives on the line for civillians with the views below.

I do agree that the E-2s, E-3s, etc who spend money on stupid things. Yes, I know because I'm an insurance agent. I quote the 19,20,20 somethings in general on vehicle insurance they can't afford and then when I offer them $15/mo renter's insurance, they decline it...

As the child of a 30+ year USN Veteran & the wife of a 20+ year veteran, I am just shocked at how negative you all are. I only make $30k a year & yes I have done it on my own as a single Mom. Anyone can do it - it's called money management.

Special rights? No, we fight for ours just like we fight for yours, everyday. Special pay? The "special pay" consists of things like... Flight Deck pay(well deserved), Sea Service pay(well deserved, and they take away our food allowance whether married or not), Flight pay(well deserved for Pilots/NFO/Naval Aircrew), Sub-surface pay(well deserved), Hazardous duty/Imminent Danger pay(ever been shot at?, well deserved) I could go on I'm sure, but the fact is, getting housing allowance which almost now matches rent/mortgage rates in the area is not, and should not be considered special pay. My housing allowance for E-6 at 19 years is a hair under my mortgage for my 2-bedroom townhouse with no garage in your average townhouse-next-to-apartment complex-neighborhood. Now, being dumb enough to marry for green cards and money, that is VERY special, hey, I think I hear the short bus coming now....(beep-beep).......

We all know it was wrong to do what they did, at least the Navy is doing something about it. I would like to see the state do something about all the welfare, food stamps and housing misuse that goes on in the state. I'll bet there is a bunch more tax dollars being wasted there.

Gee Mike, an E-5 makes more then I do in month. But yes, an E-5 could survive off base. It's called living off a budget, and not beyond your means! My job does not offer free housing plus utilities. The Navy shouldn’t, they need to survive just like the rest of us! So braking the law to get more money to survive-is still breaking the law! Check out some of those E-2, E-3's cars, and clothing-they spend too much on extras! Yes I know some of these folks, and I am shocked how they mismanage their pay. Nobody is above the law; we all would like more money in our pay!