Judge’s Meeting With Jury Means Retrial in Marriage Fraud Case

Three people convicted of marriage and immigration fraud are entitled to a retrial because of the judge’s improper contact with the jury and faulty jury instructions, a federal appeals court ruled.

Gaurav Mehta and Isha Mehta and their son were issued tourist visas to enter the U.S. from India for six months. While in the U.S., Gaurav married Mary Opoka and Isha married Brandon Johnson, both of whom are U.S. citizens. Gaurav and Isha then applied for lawful permanent resident status.

The Mehtas were convicted of marriage and immigration fraud, and Opoka was convicted of marriage fraud. But the three ...