CHARLESTON, West Virginia (AP):

An Israeli man living in West Virgina and his wife, who lives in Georgia, have been indicted on a federal charge that accuses them of conspiring to use a sham marriage to illegally keep the man in the United States.

The indictment handed up Tuesday alleges Shachar Naim, 20, and Kelly Monica Reed, 22, separated shortly after their marriage in 2004, but submitted false documents to the U.S. Citizenship and Immi-gration Service to indicate they were living together as husband and wife. It also alleges that Naim was at times living with another woman.

Government officials said Naim and Reed submitted a bogus West Virginia identification card for Reed and a letter saying she was employed in West Virginia.

If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in prison and US$2 million in fines.