San Bernardino
County Sheriff John McMahon commented, "Just a few months have passed
since the December 2, 2015 terrorist attack, and we stand unified with San
Bernardino Police Department and the FBI in their continuing
investigation. The safety of the citizens of this county has been, and
always will be our priority."
Associated Press
U.S. Attorneys » Central District of California » News
Department of
Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Central District of California
Connected to
Shooter in
San Bernardino Terrorist Attack
Arrested on Federal Conspiracy,
Marriage Fraud &
False Statement Charges
RIVERSIDE,
California – Three people with family connections to Syed Rizwan
Farook, one of the perpetrators of the December 2, 2015 terrorist attack at the
San Bernardino Inland Regional Center (IRC), were arrested this morning on
federal conspiracy, marriage fraud and false statement charges.
A five-count indictment returned yesterday by a federal grand jury charges
three defendants in a marriage fraud conspiracy that involved making false
statements under oath for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits for one
of the defendants.
The three defendants arrested this morning are:
·
Mariya
Chernykh, 26, of Ontario, who, according to official records, is married to Enrique
Marquez, Jr., who is awaiting trial on charges of conspiring with Syed Rizwan
Farook in 2011 and 2012 to provide material support to terrorists;
·
Tatiana
Farook, 31, of Corona, who is Chernykh’s sister; and Syed
Raheel Farook, 31, of Corona, who Tatiana Farook’s husband and Syed Rizwan Farook’s
brother.
The indictment charges all three defendants in a conspiracy to knowingly make
under oath a false statement with respect to a material fact in an application,
affidavit, and other document required by the immigration laws and regulations
of the United States. This charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of five
years in federal prison.
The indictment also charges Chernykh with fraud and misuse of visas, permits,
and other documents; perjury; and two counts of making material false
statements to federal agents. These four charges carry a combined statutory
maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison.
When Marquez was indicted by a federal grand jury at the end of 2015 with
conspiring with Syed Rizwan Farook to provide material support to terrorists,
he was also charged with entering into a sham marriage with Chernykh in
November 2014 and illegally signing an immigration form that falsely declared
he was living with her (see: http://go.usa.gov/cuKEm).
“This is the latest step in the comprehensive investigation into the horrific
attacks in San Bernardino last year that took the lives of 14 innocent
Americans and deeply affected so many more,” said United States Attorney Eileen
M. Decker. “As I have said previously, we owe the victims, and the entire community of San Bernardino,
a thorough investigation that uncovers all criminal activity surrounding these
events. Today's arrests open a new phase in the process of bringing to
justice all individuals who allegedly committed crimes that were uncovered
during our exhaustive investigation. The charges also reflect the importance we
place on statements made to law enforcement officials during a terrorism
investigation. Those who lie to or conceal material information from law
enforcement officers investigating terrorist acts will be prosecuted to the
fullest extent of the law.”
Acting Assistant Director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, James Struyk,
said, “Members of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force worked around the clock
in an attempt to find immediate answers in the days and weeks following the
December murders in San Bernardino to ensure no additional threats to the
community were present. As
proof of our enduring commitment to the victims and their families, the FBI and
our partners will continue to pursue all leads developed in this matter to
build cases when evidence of a crime is revealed.”
Joseph Macias, Special Agent in Charge U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Los Angeles,
stated: “Last year’s tragedy in San Bernardino showed yet again how our
nation’s legal immigration system can be subverted and exploited by those
intent on doing this country harm. As the second largest presence on the
nation’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces, HSI special agents, in collaboration with
their JTTF partners, are using their unique skills and authorities, including
their immigration expertise, to pursue individuals and organizations that pose
a threat to domestic security. As this case underscores, that vigilance extends
to those whose actions directly or indirectly put our communities and our
country at risk.”
The case against Chernykh and the Farooks stems from the overall investigation
into the IRC terrorist attack. While investigating the terrorist attack,
federal agents obtained official
records showing that Marquez, a former neighbor of Syed Rizwan Farook’s, is
married to Chernykh. The investigation determined that Marquez agreed to marry
Chernykh so she could obtain immigration benefits that were not available to
her because she is a Russian citizen and did not have legal status in the
United States. The indictment alleges that Marquez received money from Chernykh
to enter into the sham marriage.
In furtherance of this conspiracy, both Marquez and Chernykh signed immigration
documents, under penalty of perjury, that included information that they lived
at the same address, when they did not.
Syed Raheel Farook and
Tatiana Farook participated in the conspiracy by, among other things, witnessing Marquez
and Chernykh’s wedding, taking staged family pictures of Marquez and Chernykh,
establishing a joint checking account for Marquez and Chernykh, and creating a
back-dated lease for Marquez and Chernykh to create the illusion that they
shared a marital residence with Syed Raheel Farook.
FBI agents interviewed Chernykh as part of the investigation into the IRC
terrorist attacks, and she allegedly made false statements that she lived with
Marquez at Syed Raheel Farook and Tatiana Farook’s residence in Corona.
All three defendants are expected to be arraigned on the indictment this
afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside.
An indictment contains allegations that a
defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent
until proven guilty in court.
(April 28, 2016) Today's operation is the result of an ongoing investigation by
the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes partners with HSI, the San Bernardino
Police Department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the Ontario Police Department, the
Riverside Police Department, the Corona Police Department and the Chino Police
Department.