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Ukrainian Woman Facing Charges After Fake Marriage With NY Man

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Ukrainian woman has admitted to having a bogus marriage with a Binghamton man.

Natalia Polkowski, 29, pleaded guilty Thursday in Syracuse federal court to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. Prosecutors say Polkowski entered into a sham marriage with John Polkowski in December 2008 so she could obtain permanent residency in the country.

John Polkowski pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud in 2014 and has been sentenced to three years of probation. He admitted that he was promised $10,000 to marry a woman he had never met.

Polkowski told officials that he met with Natalia several times in Brooklyn and Binghampton before they were married, but never lived together or dated, The Press and Sun-Bulletin of Binghamton reported.

She faces up to five years in prison when she's sentenced on July 21.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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