- A North Carolina woman faces charges for conspiracy to commit immigration fraud and VA benefits fraud.
- Prosecutors allege a fraudulent marriage was used to obtain expedited U.S. citizenship through military service.
- The defendant faces severe penalties including potential denaturalization and 20 years for wire fraud.
(CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) – Federal prosecutors have charged Britney Sherene Curry of Charlotte, North Carolina, with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, making false statements under oath in immigration documents, unlawfully procuring U.S. citizenship, mail fraud, wire fraud, and alleged VA disability fraud, according to an indictment announced by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Prosecutors say Curry is a Jamaican national who entered the United States on a six-month B-2 visa in 2015 and remained after that period ended. The indictment alleges she later arranged a fraudulent marriage to obtain immigration benefits, became a lawful permanent resident, joined the U.S. Army, and then sought naturalization on a faster timetable than would otherwise have applied.
The case reaches beyond one defendant because it touches several areas of federal law at once: marriage-based immigration benefits, naturalization eligibility, military service, and veterans compensation. A sham marriage allegation can carry consequences well beyond a criminal case. Under INA § 204(c), USCIS may refuse to approve future family-based petitions if it finds a person attempted or entered a marriage to evade immigration laws. In practice, that finding can block later immigration benefits tied to a spouse or family relationship.
Naturalization adds another layer. Lawful permanent residents who serve in the U.S. armed forces may qualify for expedited citizenship in some circumstances under INA §§ 328 and 329. Prosecutors allege Curry used immigration status obtained through fraud to move into that process sooner. When the government charges unlawful procurement of citizenship, it often relies on 18 U.S.C. § 1425. If the government secures a conviction tied to naturalization fraud, denaturalization may follow under 8 U.S.C. § 1451.
The indictment also alleges Curry sought VA disability compensation and claimed her husband as a dependent to increase the amount paid. Dependency information matters in benefits cases because marital status can affect compensation levels. Federal fraud charges in that setting often involve mail fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1341 and wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343, which prosecutors use when they allege a scheme to obtain money or property through false representations sent through the mail, phone, internet, or other interstate communications.
Investigators came from several agencies, a sign that the case was built across immigration, military, and benefits records. The VA OIG said the investigation involved the VA OIG, DHS OIG, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, the USCIS National Benefits Center, and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division. Multi-agency cases of this kind often focus on documents submitted years apart, comparing visa records, green card filings, naturalization applications, military records, and benefit claims.
the immigration-fraud theory appears to rest on whether the marriage was entered in good faith or to obtain an immigration benefit. A legitimate marriage can later fail; that alone is not fraud. The legal issue is intent at the time of the marriage and what the applicant told the government in forms and interviews. Marriage-based cases usually involve Form I-130 and Form I-485, and sworn statements on those filings can become evidence if prosecutors later allege false testimony.
The announced penalties are severe. The mail and wire fraud counts carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years per count. Some of the immigration-related charges carry maximum penalties of up to 10 years. A conviction does not automatically produce the maximum sentence, and federal sentencing depends on the statute, the loss amount, criminal history, and other factors. Still, the exposure described by prosecutors places the case in the higher-stakes category of federal fraud prosecutions.
Warning: A criminal indictment is an accusation, not a conviction. The government must prove each charge in court, and the defendant has the right to contest the allegations.
Warning: Marriage-based filings, naturalization applications, and veterans benefit forms are often cross-checked. Inconsistent dates, prior visa history, marital history, and dependency claims can trigger scrutiny years after approval.
People with pending family-visa or naturalization cases should treat this case as a reminder to correct errors early and document a bona fide marriage carefully. Couples filing through marriage typically submit joint leases, bank records, insurance policies, photographs, birth certificates of children, and other records showing a real shared life. Anyone who believes a prior filing contained a false statement, or who has received a fraud-related notice from USCIS, ICE, or a federal investigator, should speak with a qualified immigration attorney before responding. Criminal exposure, removal consequences, and future petition bars can overlap quickly, and the rules may differ depending on the charge and the court involved.
Official information on immigration court procedures is available from EOIR at [justice.gov/eoir](https://www.justice.gov/eoir), and USCIS case and form guidance is available at [uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov). Lawyer referral resources include [AILA Lawyer Referral](https://www.aila.org/find-a-lawyer) and Immigration Advocates Network.
⚖️ Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information about immigration law and is not legal advice. Immigration cases are highly fact-specific, and laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice about your specific situation.
