I was Conned, Conned, Conned by a man from Egypt

Submitted by Me (United States), Sep 21, 2007 at 07:51

My story is so long and painful that it is almost silly. I feel a great deal of shame and worthlessness because of the events that have transpired in my life. Further more, I do not have the energy required to go into every detail. I will try to give a breif summary of what has happened to me and the help I think I need.

In the summer of 2001 I married a Muslim man from Egypt named Mohamed. Being a 30 year old woman who was ready to find marriage and start a family Mohamed seemed ideal. His culture fostered family values. We married July 13th 2001. By the end of November I was pregnant. It was at that time he asked me to start the Green Card process for him.

Since he was my husband I was happy to do it. Before we were married he produced forged paperwork stating that he was in this country legally. It was the beginning of 2002 when I found out the truth. He had arrived in the US on a student visa. He had never applied for college in the US and did not read or write English. He acquired this visa through some other means that involved lying and fraud.

I was in the Army Reserves at the time and being patriotic I was highly offended by his actions. He tried to explain to me that he comes from a poor country and America was his chance to make a better life for himself and his family. Since, I was pregnant I was conflicted. I decided to stay with him and support him anyway I could. There was a great deal of emotional abuse going on that I tried to deal with. I tried to mark it up to the language, culture, and religous barrier.

We bought a house before our daughter was born in September 2002. The abuse continued to esclate after our daughter was born. I had a botched delievery and was very traumatized by the event. Just a few hours after our daughter was born he told me that if I did not start having sex with him within 2 weeks he would do something bad. He would not elaborate on what that was. I had never refused him sex even when i was 8 months pregnant but he chose to make it an issue.

The abuse continued and included lies, stealing, and possibly cheating on me. I finally took a stand and asked that we seperate. I did not want a divorce but I regarded him as having a narcissistic personality and was hoping he would get help. I took out a restraining order on him when he tried to rape me. I had no physical evidence so the judge threw it out but ordered him from our home.

He continued to harrass me but I did not know what recourse to take. I was also financially in trouble because he saddled me with all of our expenses and then some. In April of 2004 I was fired from my job. I lost my car and home. It was then that he filed for custody of our daughter. After the birth of my daughter I was treated for post-partum depression and stress. The custody order stated that I was unable and may hurt myself or my daughter. He had no evidence of this but since I could not afford an attorney I did not know what to do.

He blackmailed me into going back with him. He was sweet as candy when we were back together. He told me so many things. I decided that maybe I just didn't understand him because of our cultural differences. I believed in the oath that I took when I married him. So, I went to Egypt with our daughter and lived there for a year. His family stole from me and tried to turn my daughter against me. When I complained he said that he will divorce me ... I had no way home and no money. He refused to send me any.

I was also frightened that I would lose my daughter. I had to work to get money and then when the moment was right I threw myself on the mercy of the US Embassy. I was able to leave the country with my daughter much to his surprise.

I moved ...with my daughter. He again had all the power because he had money. I had to let my daughter go spend 2 months with him during the summer. He swore that he would bring her back to me and he did so in August of 2006. The whole time I lived in fear that he would brainwash her or take her away from me. While she was away I had a good paying job but had to work 2nd shift and on weekends. Every child care I found would tell me that they could not continue to watch my daughter because of her behavior. I was not able to file for divorce and custody of my daughter until February of 2007.

I was forced onto welfare and I was afraid that he would use that against me. He was always very sweet and said that he does not want a divorce and that he would treat me well. Most of his income is hidden so I would not get more than $105 in child support. I eventually gave in and moved back with our daughter in June of 2007. Things went bad right away. He steals from me and gives my stuff as gifts to other women.

Of course, you cannot prove this sort of thing and there are plenty of stupid women available for a handsome con artist like my husband. One week ago I asked for a separation and he moved in with his girlfriend. He says that he is justified because men need sex every day and I only give it to him 2 or 3 times a week.. I would give it to him more if he didn't treat me like dirt. I mean stealing from the mother of your child!!

He says that she will be his 2nd wife. He says that he will never allow me to divorce him. He says that he will pay all of my bills if I cooperate. Since ...does not make it easy to get a divorce and because of the expense I am stuck once again. I have complied with his wishes thus far except sexually since he disgusts me. I have been recording our conversations in hopes he can incriminate himself. He has made several references to the amount of money he makes that he doesn't pay taxes on. I have also gotten my hands on bank statements which shows large amounts of money. I will continue to try and get information.

I have also written Homeland Security a 1/2 dozen times and filed a report with ICE for fraud. I did manage to hold up his immigration process but they will not do much else. He has done so much wrong and I cannot break free. I haven't even wrote about 1/2 of it yet. I stay because I wanted my daughter to grow up with a father figure but this guy is bad. What I need is legal advice. I do not have money for an attorney.

Is there help for me and my daughter?

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