Wanted: Green card marriage, no sex, $15K

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. Immigration officials arrested a Russian national living in Los Angeles for placing an online ad soliciting a green card marriage in exchange for $15,000.

"Green Card Marriage -- Will pay $300/month. Total $15,000," the ad placed by Yuliya Kalinina said. "This is strictly platonic business offer, sex not involved."

Officials arrested Kalinina, 24, and Benjamin Adams, 30, at separate residences following a year of marriage, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

"I'd say it's a fairly blatant example of marriage fraud," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Curtis Kin.

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent said it may be the first ever criminal case in which the suspects allegedly used the Internet to orchestrate a fraudulent marriage to obtain a green card.

Kalinina's attorney, Dale Rubin, said there is a pending asylum application in the case and stated his client was unaware her activity was illegal.

Rubin told a judge Thursday Kalinina was in the United States legally and had no prior criminal record.

The judge in the case released her on $25,000 bond. An asylum case is scheduled for Thursday when Kalinina will argue her Armenian heritage is the subject of persecution in her native Russia.