A federal jury was not convinced Friday that a Mexican national and a 20-year-old Davis County woman married for love.
After three hours of deliberation in the marriage-for-money case, jurors found the groom, Jesus Alberto Amaya, guilty of marriage fraud and a family friend, Daisy Aguilar, guilty of helping facilitate the fraudulent union.
Prosecutors claimed Aguilar tried to match several U.S. citizens with illegal immigrants trying to stay in the United States.
The jury returned a not-guilty verdict for Aguilar's husband, Joel, on the aid-to-marriage charge, but he remained in federal custody Friday in a separate re-entry case.
All three of the defendants are living in the United States illegally.
Daisy Aguilar wiped away tears and held her husband's hand as the verdicts were read.
"It's been a very difficult case for her," said her attorney, Julie George, who added that the Aguilars have an 11-year-old son still at home.
Amaya and Daisy Aguilar, who were scheduled to be sentenced in November, face a maximum five years in federal prison. After completing their sentences, they will "most likely" be removed from the United States, George said.
"Daisy was brought to this country by her parents when she was 2 years old," George said. "Everything she has is here in this country."
Although not on trial, the case appeared to hinge on the credibility of the bride — Kimberly Reeves — who brought the case to the attention of federal investigators in April.
Reeves first told police she had been kidnapped by the Aguilars, Amaya and her own mother and stepfather, Wendie and Billie Carter. She said they took her to Las Vegas and forced her to marry Amaya, threatening to take her 9-month-old son from her if she did not cooperate.
Reeves testified as much before a grand jury. Only later, while taking a lie detector test, did she admit to federal investigators that she had been a willing participant in the marriage.
Reeves pleaded guilty to perjury and aid-to-marriage fraud and testified on behalf of the prosecution. The Carters also worked out plea deals with the government. All three are free and awaiting sentencing.
Reeves testified Thursday that she married Aguilar only because she was promised $5,000 in cash and a furnished apartment for 18 months.
But defense attorneys argued Reeves married Amaya because she was trying to escape a violent relationship with her boyfriend, the father of her two children.
They said Amaya and Reeves fell in love and exchanged hugs and kisses. Reeves admitted to having sex with Amaya before the marriage.
Jurors, however, were persuaded by the government's case, even without believable testimony from Reeves.
"Realistically, nobody took her too seriously," said juror Steve Russo.
The prosecution called several witnesses — other "potential brides and grooms" — who said Daisy Aguilar tried to broker marriages for them.
Russo said some jurors wanted to convict Joel Aguilar but in the end concluded that he was not "knowingly involved" in the scam.
The jury also did not find Daisy Aguilar guilty of an illegal possession of firearms ammunition charge.
Lead prosecutor Brooke Wells said overall she was pleased with the jury's decision and hoped the verdict would "inform community members as to the peril of attempting to obtain citizenship fraudulently."
E-mail: mtitze@desnews.com