NYC woman pleads not guilty in fake-marriages case

NEW YORK (AP) – A New York woman is accused of having fake marriages with 10 men as part of an immigration scam.

Prosecutors say one of the men was deported in 2006 after a Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation into threatening statements against the U.S.

Liana Barrientos pleaded not guilty Friday to two counts of filing a false instrument – a marriage application and license – in the Bronx. She and her lawyer refused to comment afterward.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Lupo said that at one time, Barrientos was supposedly married to eight men at the same time in the New York City area.

Prosecutors say the fake grooms were natives of Egypt, Turkey, Georgia, Pakistan, Mali, the Czech Republic and Bangladesh.