Sentences given for Bulgarian marriage ring

Image by flickr user georgivar The ring made Bulgarian weddings like these happen, only they took place in the U.S., were fraudulent, and likely didn't have as much pomp. So, they were probably nothing like this.

Krassimir Simeonov, 39, of Roswell, Ga., has been given a 15-month sentence for his role in arranging marriages between U.S. citizens and Bulgarians for the purpose of gaining U.S. residency. Simeonov said in court that they charged Bulgarian between $3,000 and $8,000 for each marriage, that they paid U.S. citizens that agreed to be married between $1,500 and $2,000, and gave recruiters $500. The case is being tried in U.S. District Court in Florence and 26 people have pleaded guilty so far. The marriage ring involved residents in Horry and Dillon counties. The maximum penalty for each defendant is $250,000.00 and imprisonment for 5 years. [gmap markers=blue::43.068887774169625,24.78515625 |zoom=4 |center=42.32606244456202,24.6533203125 |width=470px |height=250px |control=Small |type=Map]

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