3 plead not guilty in sham-marriage case coected to San Bernardino terror attack

RIVERSIDE >> Three suspects arrested Thursday in a federal sham-marriage case related to the San Beardino terror attack pleaded not guilty in federal court in Riverside.

The brother and sister-in-law of the San Beardino terror shooter, Syed Rizwan Farook, and the wife of Farook’s friend, Enrique Marquez Jr., are accused of immigration and marriage fraud.

Syed Raheel Farook, 31, of Corona; his wife, Tatiana Farook, 31, of Corona; and her sister, Mariya Cheykh, 26, of Ontario, were arrested early Thursday moing on federal charges of conspiracy, marriage fraud and making false statements after federal agents served warrants at their homes. The sisters are Russian immigrants.

The three defendants are scheduled to retu to court June 6 in Los Angeles.

Cheykh has sought asylum, her attoey said during arraignment proceedings in federal court. Her bail was set at $50,000. However, she has an immigration hold placed on her.

Syed Raheel Farook and his wife, Tatiana Farook, posted bail: $25,000 for Syed Raheel Farook and $35,000 for Tatiana Farook. Syed Raheel Farook’s mother, Rafia, agreed to secure the bond with her home equity.

Rafia Farook left the hearing without making a comment.

While the govement’s attoey argued the three defendants are flight risks, the govement didn’t think they are a danger to the community. When the hearing ended, Raheel and Tatiana Farook walked out of court, out of custody.

Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, carried out the Dec. 2 terrorist shooting that killed 14 people and injured 22 at the Inland Regional Center in San Beardino.

The Farook brothers used to be neighbors in Riverside with Enrique Marquez Jr., 24, who is charged with illegally buying two of the weapons used the massacre.

Tatiana and Raheel Farook were married in 2013. About a year later, Marquez married Cheykh, who was in the U.S. on a three-month visa issued five years previously.

Authorities claim the marriage was a sham, and that Marquez admitted he was paid $200 a month to participate.

The three are accused of conspiracy to make false statements on immigration documents. Cheykh also was accused of fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents — like her husband was in December — as well as perjury and two counts of making false statements to federal agents.

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