Romanian Nationals Take Plea in Marriage Fraud Case

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Two Romanian nationals who live in Boise have pleaded guilty to federal charges alleging they married U.S. citizens to gain immigration benefits.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Idaho says 31-year-old Victor Raul Fenesan pleaded guilty Monday to obtaining a United States Visa by fraud while 33-year-old Claudia Luminita Beian pleaded guilty to unlawful procurement of citizenship.

As part of the plea agreement, Beian agreed to an order revoking her citizenship. Prosecutors say Fenesan and Beian each married U.S. citizens in 2004 for the sole purpose of obtaining immigration benefits and that they did not live with their spouses, but with each other.

Both were granted permanent resident Visas in April 2005 and Beian obtained naturalization as a U.S. citizen in February 2010. Sentencing is set for October 21.