Actress Fernanda Romero Pleads Guilty In Sham Marriage Case

LOS ANGELES — A Mexican actress has agreed to plead guilty to lying in an immigration proceeding and will avoid a retrial on charges that she engaged in a sham marriage to remain in the United States.

Fernanda Romero will acknowledge she made a false statement on an immigration form in December 2007, according to court records filed in Los Angeles.

Her husband, Kent Stuart Ross, also agreed to plead guilty to falsely stating on immigration forms that he and Romero were living together in 2005 and 2006.

Romero had small roles in several films, including "Drag Me to Hell," but is best known for her role in the Mexican soap opera "Eternamente Tuya."

Prosecutors are not seeking jail time for the couple, although it will be up to a judge to determine any punishment.

The pair was charged with entering a sham marriage in April, and a mistrial was declared in September after jurors reported deliberations had grown hostile.

A retrial was scheduled for February. The pair faced five years each in federal prison if convicted.

The actress had been living in the United States for 10 years, occasionally working as a model, before she and Ross married in 2005. Prosecutors contend the pair married so Romero could obtain permanent residency, although they were living in separate homes and were dating other people.

Her plea agreement called for her to acknowledge that she lied in a sworn statement that her mother and Ross "hang out all the time."

At her trial, Romero testified that she married Ross for love. But she and Ross said the relationship began deteriorating within six months.

Asked why he never sought a divorce, Ross said he never stopped loving Romero.

Prosecutors contended Ross, a musician and pizza restaurant manager, was paid $5,000 to marry Romero so she could obtain permanent residency.

The pair maintained separate apartments and Ross, under questioning, acknowledged that he never told his mother or brother about the marriage.

Romero and Ross were due in court on Jan. 28 to formally enter their guilty pleas. Romero's attorney, Michael Nasatir, said he could not comment on the case before the hearing.

Comments

[JCCore]

12:20 PM on 01/26/2011

DEPORT THE CON ARTIST! ANYONE WHO KNOWS HER KNOWS SHES A LIAR THAT SLEEPS HER WAY INTO EVERY ROLE SHE'S EVER GOTTEN THEN BRAGS ABOUT IT. WOMEN LIKE HER GIVE A BAD NAME TO ACTORS WHY SHOULD SHE GET SPECIAL TREATMENT BECAUSE SHES ATTRACTIVE? DON'T BE FOOLED FERNANDA IS A FELON WHO'S MO IS TO BAT HER EYES OR SPREAD HER LEGS TO GET OUT OF TROUBLE. SHE SHOWS UP AT CASTINGS SHAKING HER BUTT AROUND AND GROPING THE DIRECTORS THEN SLEEPS WITH THEM IT'S DISGUSTING HOW CAN OTHER ACTRESSES COMPETE WITH THAT DESPERATE MANIPULATION? I HOPE SHE GETS SENT BACK TO MEXICO WHERE SHE BELONGS INSTEAD OF USURPING AMERICAN RESOURCES AND VALUABLE COURT TIME FOR HER MEDIA CIRCUS. PLEAD NOT GUILTY THEN PLEAD GUILTY SHE HAS NO SHAME. IF YOU KNEW HER LIKE I DO YOU'D SEE RIGHT THROUGH HER SCAM AND SEE HOW SHE USES EVERYONE AROUND HER TO TRY TO GET FAMOUS INCLUDING MARKUS. I HOPE THE TRUTH FINALLY COMES OUT!

[latinonationreport]

12:09 AM on 01/24/2011

It's a sham, but I can't excuse her behavior (accepting a role in "Drag me to hell!")!
www.latinonationreport.com

[mystic23]

04:31 PM on 01/23/2011

omigod. this is silly. hey, if she needs to stay in the country, i'll marry her right now.

[drippinhun]

01:47 PM on 01/23/2011

They broke the law, no matter how small the crime, and now have to face the penalty. Insignificance of the story should not matter except to those who must read this type of "news."

[ArtCarnage]

12:28 PM on 01/23/2011

The April 1st marriage date should have been the first tip-off.

[The Albany Kid]

12:20 PM on 01/23/2011

I'm moved by all the altruistic comments posted in response to this story.

Something tells me that if Ms. Romero ever plans on taking a U.S. citizenship exam, most of the male readers here would be more than glad to help her "bone up."

[shanghaislim]

12:00 PM on 01/23/2011

Lying about her mother!!!!!!

...........a nice Latina girl? Lock her in jail and throw away the key.

[RedBirdy]

11:15 AM on 01/23/2011

Well thank goodness this has been resolved! Another big criminal brought to justice! Seriously...

[Fernando Lopez]

10:39 AM on 01/23/2011

Another dangerous alien removed - for the benefit of society. I feel safer knowing that HS has the right priorities.

[rudiy]

10:09 AM on 01/23/2011

Stories like this are great. I read many international news media and blogs. In many many comments the writers claim the US is a cess pool and dying. When stories like this and about tracking down illegals are mentioned and the fact of how many people apply to legally enter the US and how many illegally try those same people never respond.

This gal broke the law to her detriment. she and her "husband" now have felony records. A much larger penalty than many writing here understand.

[studana51]

09:18 AM on 01/23/2011

I'll marry her..if it'll help resolve the matter. She seems nice.
I used to hang out with her mother "all the time'.

[shanghaislim]

12:00 PM on 01/23/2011

Careful.............that is the lie that set her up!!!!!!

[hankashley]

07:40 AM on 01/23/2011

Big time crime solved! Wow! We can all stop wringing our hands now. Geezus.

[peegan]

05:12 AM on 01/23/2011

I am trying to figure out why she would even need marriage to stay anyway., As an actress and model, she has what is labeled an unique talent, and as long as she was not receiving any government aid, that is usually enough to remain in the US with a valid visa.

[Dnietz]

05:04 AM on 01/23/2011

Weird story. Why would an attractive young female even need such a sham marriage?

There are thousands and thousands of men that would likely just instantly say yes to her if she flirted with them just a little bit. As they say, all she had to is randomly throw a rock and she would probably hit a dozen people willing to date her and marry very quickly.

She could have easily just picked someone that was not bad looking and had a job and not have to pay him (and it would be all legal). Just remember folks, it isn't illegal to marry for the purpose of residency. It is illegal to marry for the solitary purpose of residency. If you live and act like married people, then it is legal. The court doesn't judge your intentions, only what you do.

So many marriages are short anyway it wouldn't have mattered if they later divorced in a couple of years. Who cares.

Something is odd about this. We all know that any attractive young woman can easily get together with most men with tiniest bit of effort at all.

[John Kelley]

06:14 AM on 01/23/2011

Most likely she already had a significant other in Mexico and wanted to remain faithful to that person. Thus, the marriage in question would have been business only carrying a risk of being caught and punished by immigration authorities. It's unlikely any male would agreed to such an arrangement without some benefit in return, and if it could not be sex, then money would be the next best alternative.

[Richcrafter]

04:51 AM on 01/23/2011

What a waste of tax payer money. Tons of sham marriages. The scam is love!