KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri woman admitted Monday in federal court that she played a role in a plot to arrange fraudulent marriages to help African nationals circumvent immigration laws.
Thirty-seven-year-old Kakeland Barnes of Kansas City pleaded guilty to a felony conspiracy count contained in an indictment last August.
Three Kansas City co-defendants, including 49-year-old Delmar Dixon, have also pleaded guilty. Dixon admitted he arranged 30 to 40 fraudulent marriages, including his own.
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Authorities say Dixon charged the African nationals $1,000 up front for his services, which included providing them U.S. citizen spouses. The African nationals additionally had to pay $500 to the spouse at the time of the wedding and $500 immediately after the wedding.
The African nationals were coached by Dixon on how to make their marriages appear legitimate.
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