United States of America v. Katherine De Leon Evaristo

Seattle, Washington criminal law lawyer represented Defendant charged with Immigration Fraud.



In late 2012, Katherine De Leon Evaristo was approached by a cousin about a sham marriage after she attended her brother's funeral in the Philippines. She agreed to the sham marriage in exchange for $20,000 with half paid at the start of the scheme and the other half when the fake spouse obtained citizenship. Evaristo applied for a fiancé visa for the fake spouse, he traveled to the U.S. in 2015, and the couple was "married” in San Diego. In 2017, the couple applied for citizenship for the "spouse,” and in 2019, again lied in their interview about the sham marriage to try to obtain citizenship.



The investigation began when Evaristo improperly used her access to a federal law enforcement database to check on the immigration status of her sham husband. CBP officers looking into the improper access knew Evaristo was dating another person and so began to unravel the sham marriage scheme. When Evaristo was interviewed in 2021, she admitted the scheme.



Evaristo was indicted in September 2021. She pleaded guilty in May 2022.



Immigration Fraud Conspiracy - 18:371

Probation for a term of 2 years with standard and special conditions; $100.00 special assessment; fine waived.