Sham Marriage Marines in Confinement, Fined

Three Marines who pleaded guilty to stealing from the government by coordinating sham marriages were given bad conduct discharges Monday.

In July, Marine Cpl. Ashley Vice said she wanted to live off base with her civilian girlfriend, Jamie Murphy. Unmarried couples are prohibited from living together on base, and her low salary prevented Vice from affording off-base housing. However, because of "don't ask, don't tell," she could not marry Murphy, and then live off-base with her. In 2009, Vice worked out a deal to marry fellow Marine Cpl. Jeremiah Griffin so she could receive the $1,200 monthly stipend that is supposed to go toward off-base living expenses for straight married couples. A year-and-a-half later, Murphy also married Marine Cpl. Joseph Garner.

In February, Vice was questioned about their actions. In June, she, Garner, and Griffin received their charges. No actions can be taken against Murphy because she is a civilian.

According to theLos Angeles Times, Vice, Griffin, and Garner were each fined $5,000 on Monday, and sentenced to confinement from three to six months.