Washington Post – by Rich Calder and Carl Campanile
A Washington Heights lawmaker on Friday pleaded guilty to marriage fraud, which not only paved the way for her to become a U.S. citizen – but also to be elected to public office.
Appearing in Manhattan federal court, Assemblywoman Gabriela Rosa, a 47-year-old Dominican native elected in 2012, admitted to filing bogus documents submitted to the federal government in which she lied about a sham marriage to obtain citizenship.
She admits doing this between 1996 and Dec. 2005, when she became a US citizen.
“I married the person and it was not a real marriage ” she told federal Judge Denise Cote.
Under the terms of her plea, Rosa — the first Dominican woman elected to legislative office — resigns immediately and can’t ever again run for any US elected office.
She also pleaded guilty to making false statements between Sept. 25, 2009 and October 2009 in court documents to declare bankruptcy.
“In 2009, I filed for bankruptcy chapter 11 and I did not include my husband’s earnings,” she said.
Rosa resigns from office as part of the plea and can’t run for any US office ever again.
The plea deal calls for a 12- to 18-month prison sentence and potential restitution.
She would have faced up to 10 years behind bars and $500,000 in fines on the two counts if she was convicted at trial.
Rosa, wearing a light blue dress with blonde hair in a bun, often looked down during the proceeding. She will be sentenced on Oct. 3.
She was released on $100,000 bail.
Her downfall shocked the political world in northern Manhattan, dominated by Dominican Democrats.
Rosa is an ally of state Sen. Adriano Espaillat — who was just narrowly defeated Tuesday in the Democratic primary to oust Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel — and Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez.
Rosa was visible on the campaign trail stumping for Espaillat.
Rosa took over a seat in 2013 previously held by Guillermo Linares.
She’s the latest city politician turned criminal.
Former Councilman Miguel Martinez, also from Washington, was convicted in a public funding scam.
And Bronx Assemblyman Eric Stevenson in January was convicted of bribery charges.
Former state Senate leaders Malcolm Smith and John Sampson also are under indictment.
http://nypost.com/2014/06/27/washington-heights-lawmaker-pleads-guilty-to-marriage-fraud/
and than we have Obama
Ok, fine her, give her prison for the 12-18 months and then DEPORT HER! The article didn’t mention that, and it probably won’t happen, but she became a citizen ILLEGALLY.
We only even consider deporting ‘right wing extremist’…no one else.
The US doesn’t even consider deporting any other than those terrible ‘right wing extremists’.