Once married, the illegal aliens could apply for a green card enabling them to stay in the country. Authorities say the ring operators had the most success recruiting people in the poor neighborhood of Hamilton Hill. Miguel Jaime's conviction was the last in the crackdown, said Gary Hale, Immigration and Naturalization Service agent in Albany. Thirty-five illegal aliens from Peru have been arrested and deported since the investigation began, he said. The Schenectady citizens involved in the fake marriages have not been charged.
Authorities say they have cooperated with the federal investigation.