Upper Marlboro Couple Charged with Harboring an Alien

Two Upper Marlboro residents are each facing up to five years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines for harboring an alien in their home for 10 years, according to a press release issued by the United States Department of Justice.

Alfred Edwards, 74, and his wife Gloria, 60, pleaded guilty yesterday to harboring a Filipina national whom they brought into the country under false pretenses, according to the Department of Justice.

Their plea agreements state that the couple began arranging for the Filipina national, whose name was not released, to come into the country, including paying $5,000 to aid in her travel costs, entry into the country, and to secure a false visa.

The woman arrived in the U.S. in May of 1999 and was brought to the then home of the Edwards couple in Bowie where she resided until August of 2009.  

According to their plea agreements, in October 1998, the couple arranged for a national of the Philippines to enter the United States under false pretenses. Gloria Edwards paid $5,000 to assist in covering the costs of the Filipina woman’s travel to, and entry into, the United States, including paying another person to secure a visa under false pretenses, according to the Department of Justice release.  

The couple also attempting to fraudulently obtain permanent resident status for the woman, including arranging a sham marriage, during the 10 years she lived in the U.S, according to the release.

The couple each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  Sentencing is scheduled for September 20 and 21, 2012.

The information in the article was collected from a press release issued by the U. S. Department of Justice.