Kenyan Woman Pleads Guilty to Marriage Fraud Conspiracy in the US

A Kenyan-born woman is facing deportation from the US after she was found guilty of marriage fraud.

61-year-old Fidelina Mwelu Mutisya of Winchester, Ohio was found guilty by a Missouri court on Tuesday, according to statement released by the US Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri.

She admitted to entering in a fraudulent marriage arranged by Delmar Dixon of Kansas City to bypass federal immigration laws with an aim of obtaining permanent residency and/or American citizenship.

Fidelina was charged together with two other Kenyans; 36-year-old Nellie Mbote of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and 40-year-old Rogers Onyango Guche of Cypress, Texas.

The three were accused of paying Dixon to arrange their marriages. They also paid their American ‘spouses’ $1,000 at the time of the wedding and $100 monthly until the immigration process was complete.

Nellie married in 2009 while Fidelina and Rodgers wedded their spouses in 2007. Dixon is said to have coached the three Kenyans and their spouses on how to make their marriages appear legitimate by advising the couples to get to know each other and make it appear as if they were living together.

Dixon, who was charged in a separate but related case, was sentenced on July 13th, 2017 to three years in federal prison after admitting he arranged between 30 and 40 fraudulent marriages.

Having being found guilty, Fidelina’s naturalization will be revoked and her certificate of naturalization annulled. Fidelina, who was admitted to the US on a visitor (B-1) visa, is a lawful resident. 

She also faces deportation under the US federal law, having committed multiple removable offenses, including the one she pleaded guilty to. But her extradition and other immigration consequences will be subject to a separate proceeding.