A Davis-Monthan airman is on trial in military court this week over allegations that he ran a fraudulent Russian bride ring, arranging sham marriages for money with members of the military so the foreign women could obtain legal status in the U.S.
Staff Sgt. Aleksandr S. Ilin faces a dozen counts of conspiracy, theft of government property and criminal solicitation in the case that stretches from Florida, where Ilin was previously stationed, to Tucson, where he is accused of making phone calls aimed at keeping witnesses quiet.
Ilin, 27, who was born in Russia, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His court-martial opened Monday and is being heard by a nine-member jury.
Military prosecutors say that, while Ilin worked as an honor guard instructor at Hurlburt Field in Florida, he sought out young, lower-ranking airmen to take part in the scheme.
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Prosecutor Capt. Mark Bruegger told the jury the case was about "greed and green cards."
The grooms-to-be were told they could make extra cash by getting married, Bruegger said, since the Air Force gives married personnel extra benefits such as housing allowances and higher pay when military duties require extended absence from the family home.
In return, the newlywed airmen would have to lie to immigration officials to persuade them the unions were bona fide.
Prosecutors said Ilin received up to $2,000 in payoff money from some of the Russian brides.
"He said he could arrange it so I could have an arranged marriage with a girl from Russia," said Staff Sgt. George Blake, who testified against Ilin on Monday.
"He said if I didn't like her, I didn't even have to see her," Blake said. "He said I could make an extra couple thousand a month if I went ahead with it."
Blake, who now works at the Pentagon, said Ilin made the pitch in 2003 when they both were assigned to Hurlburt Field. He said he rejected the offer because "it seemed a little shady."
Ilin now is assigned to D-M's 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron. He's been at the Tucson base since December 2006.
He is charged with arranging three such marriages between 2005 and 2007 and with soliciting others who declined to take part.
Defense lawyers say Ilin did nothing illegal and was only trying to help some of his Air Force buddies meet women. Since Ilin and his wife are both from Russia, they happened to know a number of single Russian women, they said.
"Sgt. Ilin was a matchmaker, not a lawbreaker," said defense lawyer Maj. Lance Wood, He said Ilin intends to take the witness stand to testify in his own defense.
The court-martial is scheduled to run until Thursday.
Contact reporter Carol Ann Alaimo at calaimo@azstarnet.com or at 573-4138.
