A man who impersonated a U.S. Marshal and his wife pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from an attempt to deport his cousin’s pregnant wife in San Diego, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
Gregory Denny and his wife, Karen, were charged with impersonation to make an arrest and aiding and abetting the false impersonation of a law enforcement officer. They face up to three years in prison.
In January, the Dennys went to the relative’s home in Hemet, Calif., to falsely deport the woman for entering the United States illegally, according to court documents. Denny put handcuffs on the cousin’s wife and drove her to a U.S. border patrol station in California.
The man told border patrol agents that he was a U.S. Marshal and asked them to take the woman into custody. The agents refused the request.
The Dennys then brought the cousin’s wife to the San Diego Airport, where she would take a flight to the Philippines. The man showed fake credentials to airport authorities and told them he was a U.S. Marshal, who needed to transport a prisoner. Transportation Security Administration officials allowed him to proceed.
Prosecutors wouldn’t say whether the woman returned to the United States.
