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TRIAL BEGINS IN MARRIAGE FRAUD CASE
According to opening statements made in the trial of four people accused of entering into marriages solely for the purpose of gaining immigration benefits, there was a conspiracy in which marriages were arranged between US citizens and African nationals.  Currently on trial are three men from the Ivory Coast and one US citizen woman.  The man who federal authorities believe was the leader of the conspiracy, also from the Ivory Coast, will be tried later this spring. 
The federal government began investigating in October 1999, when the FBI started an investigation into claims of bank fraud and counterfeit checks.  They believe that the fraudulent marriages began as early as October 1996.  The investigation got its big break when the FBI interviewed a woman who worked for the leader, who claimed she had evidence that he had arranged eight marriages, including hers. 
This woman testified at the trial.  She said that African nationals paid the leader anywhere between ,000 and ,000 to arrange a marriage between them and a US citizen.  The women were allegedly paid 0 at the time of the marriage, and 0 after the INS interview.  She claimed the leader would coach the couples on how to respond during the INS interview.