PORTLAND, Maine — A citizen of Cambodia was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to six months in prison for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.
Sothy Khiev, 48, who most recently lived in Florida, was convicted of the crime in February following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Khiev had been held without bail since his conviction. After serving his sentence, Khiev will be turned over to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings.
Khiev paid Chanara Sok, 28, of Portland $5,000 to fraudulently engage and marry Khiev’s girlfriend, Sophal Cheng, 28, so that she could legally enter the country, the federal prosecutor’s office said in a press release.
Cheng entered the U.S. on a fiance visa and married Sok in Westbrook on Sept. 4, 2007. Later, Cheng sought to adjust her immigration status on the basis of her fraudulent marriage to Sok, according to court documents.
To conceal the fraudulent marriage, Khiev orchestrated, among other things, false affidavits and letters of support, a false utility bill in the names of Cheng and Sok, and a used car purchase and insurance documents in the name of Cheng and Sok. He also arranged for a false birth certificate identifying Cheng and Sok as parents.
Cheng was tried with Khiev but found not guilty.
Sok was sentenced in May to two years of probation after pleading guilty to a marriage conspiracy charge.
Khiev and Sok each faced up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.