Feds say sailors arranged sham marriages; five indicted

Federal authorities say they have uncovered another marriage fraud ring tied to the Navy.

One current and one former sailor have been indicted with two Eastern European women on charges that they arranged their marriages for mutual benefits: The sailors received larger housing allowances and the women received green cards.

A fifth suspect, Ricardo Estaban Fernandez, a sailor in his 30s stationed in Norfolk, is suspected of leading the marriage fraud ring. He is scheduled to appear in federal court today for a bond hearing.