Bridgeport Man Charged With Immigration Marriage Fraud Scheme

MILFORD, CT — Two men were charged with 14 criminal counts related to an immigration marriage fraud scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney District of Connecticut office.

Jodian Stephenson, 34, of Bridgeport and Donovan Lawrence, 62, of Milford were both arrested Friday and were released on bonds.

Stephenson operated Stephenson Immigration and Legal Services, LLC, in Bridgeport, and Lawrence has operated Donovans Accounting Services, LLC, in Bridgeport. Between about July 2012 and July 2017 the two along with others conspired to arrange sham marriages between U.S. citizens and non citizens in order for the non citizens to obtain green cards, according to a criminal indictment.

The indictment found nine fake marriages and green card applications. Stephenson offered to arrange a sham marriage to an undercover federal law enforcement agent who posed as a non-citizen in exchange for $20,000, according to the indictment. He advised the agent on how to create the appearance of a real marriage and offered to help him obtain a marriage license for a $5,000 cash payment.

Both Stephenson and Lawrence were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit immigration marriage fraud and six counts of making false statements; each count has a maximum five year prison term. Stephenson is additionally charged with seven counts of immigration documents fraud with each count representing up to 10 years in prison.

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