Lithia Springs man orchestrated sham marriages, sentenced to prison

"Anyanwu abused the same immigration system that allowed him to become a U.S. citizen," Yates said. "His price for defrauding the government is high."

According to the news release, Anyanwu ran a "fraudulent marriage factory" from February 2001 until he was arrested in 2012. As part of the criminal enterprise, Anyanwu recruited U.S. citizens to be spouses and forged government documents. Testimony revealed Anyanwu would travel from Atlanta to Huntsville, Ala. to find potential mates for his clients, who were primarily Africans from Kenya and Nigeria, the release said.

U.S. citizens were paid approximately $700 for their role in the scam, and could get $500 for trips to Atlanta for interviews with immigration officials. Anyanwu also coached the citizens and told them what to say during the immigration interviews. Those seeking the marriage paid Anyanwu as much as $10,000, and often met their intended spouse moments before they were to be married, authorities said. Many times the couple did not live in the same city or state after the marriage.

Authorities estimate Anyanwu made at least $1 million from the criminal enterprise.

"Providing a legal avenue for the spouses of United States citizens to immigrate to our country is one of the bedrock principles of our immigration system," said special agent Brock D. Nicholson of Homeland Security Investigations in Atlanta. "The defendant exploited that avenue for his own enrichment."