Edmonton man convicted of marriage fraud, an Alberta first

A bride and groom are shown in this undated file photo.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced Wednesday that an Edmonton man was convicted in provincial court of misrepresentation pursuant to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act on June 16.

CBSA said this landmark case marks the first time in Alberta that charges were laid and prosecuted in a marriage of convenience case.

Officials said Gilbert Leland Platts, 60, was sentenced to six months in jail – to be served in the community.

According the agency, Platts had agreed to marry a female foreign national and sponsor her permanent resident application as her spouse - in exchange for $5,000.

CBSA filed charges against Platts in February 2014 following an almost two-year investigation.

While the agency couldn’t reveal details about the woman, the Immigration and Refugee Board said Venus Tandog Platts, a woman in her late 30s, received an exclusion order requiring her to leave Canada. Records show the Philippines native entered Canada on a work permit in 2007 and was married in 2010.

CBSA officials confirm a female foreign national was removed from Canada in July 2013.

Charged with misrepresentation and counselling misrepresentation, Platts faced a maximum fine of $100,000 or up to five years in prison.

With files from the Canadian Press