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My friend wants me to hold a lot of money for him, should I do it?
So here's the story.
My friend is from France and he goes to college here in America. He wound up agreeing to marry a girl here so he could get his green card and because she seemed really nice. They wound up creating a joint bank account and everything to make the government believe they really loved each other.
Well she wound up becoming a monster after he married her. She quit working, lives in his apartment, uses his car, and cheats on him all the time even in his own place. He gets paid mostly in tips and only has the one bank account (with her) since he's not a full citizen for another 2 years.
Well she's been immediately taking his money out of their account and spending it on strange things like weekend trips without him in other states.
He said he needs somebody to store his money for him and wants me to be that person because he says I'm the only person he trusts.
Is there any way I can get in trouble if I just take the cash and hold it somewhere even if it's outside of a bank account (like just in cash form in a drawer or something)?
I've known him for a while and know he's not a liar, but still I worry because I don't want to get scammed by him or his wife. I asked him if he can wire it to family, but they're out of the country and this would be difficult for him and cost him money in wiring rates. If I hold it he can also easily access it.
I'm really worried about it though. Is there any way this could go badly as long as I don't spend the cash and don't deposit it in my account?
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No one here is your lawyer, so none of this advice is going to be solid legal advice.
However, I would not help you friend in this way. You may end up stuck with conspiracy or fraud charges. Either for helping him in his immigration fraud, or, what is likely also going to end up being tax fraud.
Frankly, there shouldn't be a reason he can't open his own account, where she can't touch the money, except for reasons that also mean you shouldn't get involved. If he hiding assets to avoid taxation, or because of the eventual divorce, both of those are crimes.
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I am not an attorney and cannot say what if any trouble he or you can get into on this matter. I am somewhat aware of Immigration laws and even once he gets his green card should it come out that his marriage was a scam his green card can be resided and he can be deported if not first spending some time in jail her too.
What I suggest is he seek advice from an Immigration attorney. Anything he tells the attorney is confidential and cannot be used against him.
As for the money he can open a bank account strictly in his name in the same bank or another bank. When the divorce any funds found to be in this account if the account is found, becomes part of the marital assets and may have to be shared as part of the divorce agreement.
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He needs legal advice. You need to tell him that plus the fact you aren't comfortable being responsible for his money. This way you avoid the possibility of a ton of misery or anything sour.
Why can't he open his own account? If he opened a joint one they obviously accepted his photo-ID, birth-certificate and other details. He may not be an American citizen but if he's working he has a Social Security Card. He doesn't have to be a citizen to have his own account.
You should get him to consult his bank branch and also have them try to help him get out of the joint account. They know what they are doing. If I were you I would stay away from holding it and don't do that. He may be trying to hide income not just from her but other entities. If he doesn't like this and gets funny with you so be it. It's not a situation t get into.
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