Seven Arrested in Paris-Area Marriage Fraud Scheme Worth Thousands

The seven people arrested will have to appear before the Evry-Courcouronnes court next March, reports Le Parisien. They risk 10 years in prison and a fine of 750,000 euros.

The investigations revealed that it was a 55-year-old North African man who was at the head of the organized marriage network. He organized white marriages in Vélizy (Yvelines), Cesson (Seine-et-Marne) and Soisy-sur-Seine (Essonne).

In total, three North Africans in an irregular situation married three French women. Each of them paid a sum of 13,000 € as remuneration for the organization and the three French women, specifies the same source. The main defendant had hired these three men aged between 27 and 36 as well as their wives in his restaurant.

Pending their appearance, the seven defendants were placed under judicial supervision.