Missing photographer Hanna Kobayashi was reportedly found alive on Wednesday with her alleged fake husband in order to create evidence that the marriage was real and deceive immigration officials. He was planning to fly to New York City with him.
Kobayashi, 30, was arrested along with his ex-boyfriend Amun Muniz-Miranda, his wife Marianne, who has a green card, and Alan Cacace, an Argentinian he was secretly married to after allegedly failing to apply for a green card visa. I was traveling from Los Angeles International Airport.
However, the foursome are said to have planned this trip to make their marriage seem more legitimate.
The trip was set up for the couple to take plenty of photos around the Big Apple's iconic landmarks, including the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Central Park, the paper said. daily mail.
The plan, reportedly devised by Cacace, was to create evidence that their marriage was genuine should immigration officials become aware of the plan.
Kakas is suspected of giving Kobayashi $15,000 to help her get a green card, the newspaper reported.
He allegedly promised her a similar amount after she was issued immigration documents allowing her to stay in the United States.
The FBI is currently investigating the incident, citing the possibility that Kobayashi's green card visa system was compromised because she did not tell her family that she was married.
Suspicions of marriage fraud extended to the extent that the singer had shown co-workers at Maui smoke shop Up and Smoke photos of her wedding before she disappeared, the Daily Mail reported.
A source who worked with Kobayashi in Hawaii told the Monday Post that those who worked with her were aware of the alleged sham marriage.
“My other colleague knew, but she kept it a secret. That's what Hannah wanted. But now it's out there for everyone to see. '' said the official.
Another close friend of Hannah also confirmed to the Post that she married Cacace.
However, the friend did not feel that the two were in a romantic relationship.
Marriage fraud is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
Sarah Azari, a lawyer representing the Kobayashi family, said there was no concrete evidence that she was married to Cacace.
“We have no legal or factual support. There is no proof. She never told her family that she was married,” Azari told the Post.
However, Kobayashi voluntarily stepped off the plane at LAX, sent a concerned email to his family, and became more cautious.
Kobayashi bought a ticket at a bus stop in Los Angeles on November 12 and headed to the Mexican border.
The next day, she entered Tijuana via the San Ysidro entrance tunnel around noon.
On Wednesday, more than a month after Kobayashi disappeared, his family announced that he had been found and was safe.
The family of Hanna, a 30-year-old from Hawaii, said in a statement released by her lawyer to local media: “We are extremely relieved and grateful that Hanna has been found safely.”
“This past month has been an unimaginable challenge for our family. We ask for privacy as we allow time to heal and process all that we have been through.”
