Carpentersville woman who arranged sham marriage convicted

A 38-year-old Carpentersville woman who arranged a sham marriage for a Mongolian relative in 2003 was convicted Monday in federal court of witness tampering and lying to authorities.

Enkhchimeg Ulziibayar Edwards, also known as Eni Edwards, is a U.S. citizen. Prosecutors say she arranged for her cousin, a Mongolian immigrant, to marry a friend to obtain permanent residency in the U.S.

During her tenure as vice president of the American Mongolian Association, Edwards personally vouched for Mongolians attempting to enter the country, prosecutors said.

Edwards, who was subsequently hired by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was assigned to a team investigating visa fraud involving Mongolian immigrants, prosecutors said in a prepared statement.

During the investigation, authorities began looking into the role Edwards played in the 2003 marriage. On several occasions, prosecutors say, Edwards tried to persuade her friend to lie to investigators about the real reason for the marriage.

Edwards will be sentenced May 26.