News
Marines accused of sham marriages for fiscal gain
Posted: Jul 2, 2011 1:26 PM by Matt Stafford
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The military says three Southern California Marine corporals are facing charges of defrauding the government for entering into sham marriages for financial gain.
1st Lt. Maureen Dooley, a Marine spokeswoman, said Saturday the scam was hatched when a lesbian couple, one a Marine and the other a civilian, decided to live together off base. The military says the female Marine found a male Marine willing to get married, allowing them to collect a housing benefit. Officials say the civilian woman also eventually married a male Marine and collected government funds.
The corporals, assigned to the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego, will face fraud and larceny charges. Their names were not released.
In addition to the charges, the three Marines could have to pay back the military $75,000.
As Seen On News 5
