U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles stated that Keren Ettedgy, 31, Lucian Barney Todd, 37, of Loris both pled guilty in federal court in Florence to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.
Ettedgy and Todd were married in December 2004 in Georgetown County so that Ettedgy, an Israeli citizen, could become a citizen of the United States.
After the marriage, Ettedgy filed an Application to Request Permanent Resident with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service falsely stating that Ettedgy and Todd were living together in Yorktown, Virginia.
In August 2008, Ettedgy and Todd filed a Petition to Remove Conditional Residency form (PRCNR) falsely stating that they were living in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Ettedgy was sentenced to 69 days imprisonment and a $1,000.00 fine and was also ordered to return to Israel within 15 days.
Todd will be sentenced at a later date. The maximum penalty he can receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment for 5 years, plus a special assessment of $100.00.
