A citizen of the Republic of Georgia who was accused of running a sham marriage immigration fraud scheme pleaded guilty Wednesday in court in Hartford, according to federal authorities.
According to United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Deirdre Daly, David Nikolashvili, a 52-year-old a citizen of the Republic of Georgia who is living in Stamford, pleaded guilty to engaging in an immigration fraud scheme.
He was accused of obtaining false immigration status from U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services for approximately 50 to 60 citizens of European countries.
After they paid Nikolashvili between $12,000 and $16,000, he would arrange sham marriages between the immigrants and U.S. citizens in order to obtain immigration benefits. Federal authorities said the U.S. citizens were paid to enter into the sham marriages.
Nikolashvili was arrested on June 21, 2016, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false swearing in an immigration matter and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 27.
He has been released on a $75,000 bond pending sentencing.
