11 Charged As Part Of Marriage Fraud Ring At Fort Bragg

NORTH CAROLINA — A marriage fraud ring involving soldiers at Fort Bragg attempted to evade immigration laws while also increasing soldiers' pay through a housing allowance increase, according to the Department of Justice.

The charges announced Thursday by the U.S. Attorney's Office of Eastern District of North Carolina alledge that former soldier Ebenezer Yeboah Asane, 37, orchestrated the sham marriages from his home in Fayetteville.

"The purpose of the conspiracy was for the foreign-born nationals to evade U.S. immigration laws and obtain lawful permanent residence status and for the soldiers to receive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to live off post, as opposed to the barracks," DOJ said in an Oct. 1 statement announcing the charges.

The indictments included 29 counts on charges that included marriage fraud; transporting and harboring aliens; visa fraud; obstruction; unlawful disposition of U.S. property; false statements in immigration matters; and conspiracy to marriage fraud.

The following suspects were charged, according to U.S. Attorney Robert Higdon:

• Ebenezer Yeboah Asane (“Asane”) 37, of Fayetteville, NC
• James Earnest Ekow Arthur, 32, of El Paso, Texas
• Ernest Atta Gyasi, 43, of Bronx, New York
• Samuel Manu Agyapong (“Agyapong”), 33, of Fayetteville, NC
• Barbara Oppong, 41, of Bronx, New York
• William Steven Ballard, 23, of Fayetteville, NC
• Solace Kwakye, 30, of Bronx, New York
• Yemisi Mary Opaso, 27, of Hanover, Maryland
• Christopher Matthew Urquia, 23, of Fort Bragg, NC
• Kevyn Jakob Ward, 22, of Fayetteville, NC
• Effua Agyare-Darko, 43, of Ardsley, New York

As part of the marriage fraud scheme, Asane conspired with various defendants to recruit soldiers, orchestrated photos to give the appearance that the marriages were legitimate, and submitted false statements to immigration officials, DOJ said.

"The indictment further charges Agyapong, a Sergeant at Fort Bragg, with obstructing an official proceeding by attempting to destroy evidence and influencing the testimony of a witness," DOJ said.

Maximum sentencing for the charges include imprisonment up to five years for marriage fraud, up to 10 years for harboring aliens and unlawful disposition of U.S. property, up to 20 years for obstructing an official proceeding, and up to 25 years for visa fraud.

The case remains under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security's Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, DOJ said.