Romero Facing Deportation After Serving Time In Marriage Sham Case

Fernanda Romero

Romero and husband Kent Ross convicted in immigration marriage sham serving 15 weekends in jail since last April.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 21, 2011

Los Angeles, CA - Actress Fernanda Romero, 28, or Maria Fernanda Romero Martinez is facing separate immigration charges, which could lead to her deportation from the U.S. Romero, a Mexican national and her husband Kent Ross, 28, were convicted after pleading guilty in April for making false statements to immigration officials. U.S. District Judge Manuel L. Real sentenced both Romero and Ross to 15 consecutive weekends in jail, including five years of supervision and 1,000 hours of community service.
Assistant U.S. Jim Left confirmed that Romero is facing separate immigration charges, which could result in revoking her green card legal status and permanent residency.
Romero's immigration marriage sham was exposed by her former boyfriend Markus Klinko, a professional photographer after their split-up. Klinko contacted immigration officials and reported that Romero had been living with him instead of her husband.
Both Romero and Ross made false statements when they applied for her green card. They submitted documents to immigration officials, admitting they were living together in 2005 and 2006. When in fact, she was already living with Klinko, according to court records.

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Mexican Actress Romero Pleads Guilty In U.S. Immigration Marriage Sham Case

Fernanda Romero
Mexican Actress

Romero and husband both lied to immigration officials

By H. Nelson Goodson
January 31, 2011

Los Angeles, CA - On Friday, Fernanda Romero, 28, pleaded guilty to lying to immigration officials about her husband's close relationship with her mother. Romero had been charged with marriage sham in order to get permanent residency and remain in the U.S.
Her husband, Kent Ross, 28, was also charged in the sham marriage case. He worked at a pizza place and entered into a marriage agreement with Romero.
Romero had told immigration officials that her mother and Ross had a close relationship and spent lots of time together. Which in fact, officials discovered they only saw each other twice.
She had told investigators, that both Ross and her were living together. Officials reported they actually lived apart and dated other people. Romero's live in boyfriend reported the marriage sham to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after they separated.
Romero will be sentenced on April 11 by U.S. District Judge Manuel Real and several other charges will be dismissed, according to court records. She was facing, fines, probation and five years in a federal prison. But under the plea agreement, Romero is expected to be deported and won't be able to ever enter the U.S. under the felony conviction.
Ross pleaded guilty to lying as well in immigration forms that he and Romero lived together after they were married in 2005. He has a plea hearing set for Feb. 4.
Federal charges alleged that Romero paid Ross $5,000 in 2005 to marry her, so she could stay in the country.
The ICE investigation found that Romero never lived with Ross as required when she applied for naturalization. Instead, she moved in with Markus Klinko a photographer, her then boyfriend. Romero had recently broke her relationship with Klinko, who inspite informed ICE and provided proof she was in a phony arranged marriage with Ross.

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Federal Judge Ruled Mistrial In Romero's Immigration Marriage Sham

Fernanda Romero

Photo: U.S. Marshal Service

Judge set next hearing for January in the ongoing Romero marriage immigration sham case

By H. Nelson Goodson
September 4, 2010

Los Angeles, CA - A federal judge on Friday ruled a mistrial in the Fernanda Romero immigration sham marriage case after a jury resulted in deadlock and couldn't reach a verdict. The judge set a hearing date for January to discuss the case further. The U.S. Attorney's Office hasn't decided if they will retry the case.
Suspected immigration marriage sham cases are handled, investigated and heard in an immigration court.
During the case Romero while in tears said, she married Kent Ross for love, but in 2007 when immigration officials did a surprised check on them, they found Ross was staying at a different location.
In May, both Romero 28, and Kent Ross, 28, pleaded not guilty to federal charges that they were married to get Romero legalize in the U.S. Federal charges allege that Romero paid Ross $5,000 in 2005 to marry her, so she could stay in the country.
U.S. Customs and Enforcement (ICE) found that Romero never lived with Ross as required when she applied for naturalization. Instead, she moved in with Markus Klinko a photographer, her then boyfriend. Romero recently broke her relationship with Klinko, who inspite informed ICE and provided proof she was in a phony arranged marriage with Ross. Romero was seeking legal residency in the U.S., according to ICE.

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