COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A federal judge in Ohio has ordered two years’ probation for an immigration lawyer who illegally married to gain permanent U.S. residence.
U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Frost issued the sentence Friday for Lillian Asante (uh-SAN’-tay), who must return to her native Ghana.
The 38-year-old Asante and her ex-husband, Kwadwo (KWAD’-woh) Asante each pleaded guilty in September to unlawfully entering into marriages to evade U.S. immigration laws.
Prosecutors say the Asantes married in Ghana, came to the United States in 2002 to earn advanced degrees, then divorced in 2004 and married U.S. citizens to obtain green cards while continuing to live as a married couple.
Frost also sentenced 40-year-old Kwadwo Asante to two years’ probation. He also must return to Ghana.