Originally published Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Comments (20)
E-mail article
Print view
Alleged advice to asylum seekers: Tell feds you're gay
A Kent couple who claimed to be experts in immigration cases advised clients to falsely claim to be gay and subject to persecution or even death if they returned home so they could win asylum in the U.S., according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday.
Seattle Times staff reporter
A Kent couple who claimed to be experts in immigration cases advised clients to falsely claim to be gay and subject to persecution or even death if they returned home so they could win asylum in the U.S., according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday.
Steven and Helena Mahoney were arrested Tuesday after an investigation that began in September, according to federal officials. Prosecutors allege the couple claimed to be experts in immigration cases while operating Mahoney and Associates in Kent.
The Mahoneys — who are not licensed to practice law in the state of Washington — are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud. Steven Mahoney also has been charged with three counts of immigration fraud, according to the indictment.
They appeared Tuesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler, who ordered Steven Mahoney to be held pending a detention hearing on Friday. Helena Mahoney was released.
The judge set the trial for Jan. 29.
The indictment alleges that in at least three instances the Mahoneys told immigrants to falsely state they were homosexual on immigration documents and that they feared persecution or even death if they returned to their own countries.
The three victims are identified only by initials, and the indictment does not indicate what countries they were from.
In one instance, involving an individual identified only as A.K., Steven Mahoney is alleged to have advised him to say on immigration applications that he was gay and that the militia in his country had attempted to rape his wife because of it, according to the indictment. Helena Mahoney allegedly helped the man obtain "documents about the gay community to assist A.K. in preparing for his asylum interview," the indictment alleges.
Another immigrant, identified as G.V., reportedly submitted documents to the immigration officials claiming that he was afraid he would be maimed if he returned to his homeland "when in truth ... G.V. was not afraid of such maiming," according to the indictment.
It's not clear whether any of the three immigrants mentioned in the indictment was granted asylum status and allowed to stay in the U.S.
The Mahoneys were first charged in September in the sealed indictment. Emily Langlie, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle, said prosecutors located additional victims and the investigation was expanded.
Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
UW provost tapped for Nike's board
Food-bank donations pour in after theft in Rainier Valley
Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
Man gets 11 1/2 years in I-90 floating-bridge stabbing

LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham talks about the upcoming MLS Cup final during after a team practice.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Monfort fired after excellent worker turned unreliable
- Sentence request for US woman in Italy murder case
- 31 years for man who killed girlfriend, then lit cigarette and waited for police
- Boeing facility death was suicide
- Swedish threatens to end Regence BlueShield's contract
- Man falls 8 stories, suffers minor injuries
- Mariners Blog | A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Mariners Blog | Dustin Ackley to move to second base; Mariners add six to 40-man roster
- Swedish threatens to end Regence BlueShield's contract
171 - Italian prosecutors wrap up in Knox murder trial
109 - First key vote today on Senate health bill
93 - Boeing breaks ground for historic SC plant
90 - Mariners add six to 40-man roster
86 - A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
84 - Man sentenced to 31 years in prison in girlfriend's slaying on I-5
79 - Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
57 - Man shot in Capitol Hill
55 - Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
52
- Swedish threatens to end Regence BlueShield's contract
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Restaurant review | Artisanal at The Bravern shows French flair in delicious style
- Seattle industrial artist Rusty Oliver is the man behind 'Smash Putt'
- Peruvian police: Gang killed people for their fat
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- $335 million in education grants
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again






