THE federal court will sentence Jaimelynn Nebres Morales, also known as Jaimelynn Bucio Nebres, on Sept. 12, 2025 at 9 a.m.
Represented by attorney Mark Scoggins, Nebres pled guilty to the charge of marriage fraud on Tuesday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Backe appeared for the federal government.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI Court found that the “defendant was fully competent to enter a knowing and voluntary plea.”
Judge Manglona allowed the defendant to remain released on her own recognizance but ordered her to surrender her passport.
Marriage fraud carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
According to the recently unsealed plea agreement, the defendant was born in 1993 and is a citizen of the United States.
“On or about June 30, 2023, in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands, Defendant knowingly entered into a marriage for the purpose of evading a provision of the immigration laws. Specifically, Defendant married M.P.M., a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and a CW-1 visa holder, so M.P.M. could potentially procure permanent resident status and not have to return to his home country. At the time she entered into the marriage, Defendant had no intention of ever establishing a life with M.P.M.,” the plea agreement stated.
