Sentencings for the Corona couple who pleaded guilty to participating in a marriage-fraud scheme that was discovered during the investigation into the Dec. 2, 2015, San Bernardino terrorist attack has been postponed.
Syed Raheel Farook, older brother of the male shooter, Syed Rizwan Farook, on Jan. 10 pleaded guilty to one felony charge of conspiracy. Raheel’s wife, Tatiana, on Feb. 9, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud.
Both were scheduled to be sentenced in U.S. District Court in Riverside on Monday, Nov. 13. But District Judge Jesus G. Bernal granted an extension to March 19 after the defendants said they needed more time to prepare their written sentencing positions.
The sentencing for Tatiana Farook’s sister, Maria Chernykh, who on Jan. 26 pleaded guilty to conspiracy, perjury and two counts of making false statements, is set for Nov. 20.
Her attorney and prosecutors filed a joint motion to postpone the sentencing to April 30, so Chernykh, too, could have more time to prepare her written sentencing position.
Bernal had not ruled on the motion, as of Friday.
Chernykh, a Russian citizen who had long overstayed her visa, along with Tatiana Farook, Raheel Farook and Riverside resident Enrique Marquez Jr., had sought permanent U.S. residency by fraudulently claiming that she had married Marquez, federal prosecutors said.
Tatiana and Raheel Farook, and Marquez are all U.S. citizens.
Raheel Farook agreed to pay Marquez $200 per month to pretend to marry Chernykh. Raheel Farook created a false legal agreement for the fake couple that said they lived in Corona. Marquez actually lived in Riverside, while Chernykh lived in Ontario with her boyfriend, with whom she had a child.

Among other ruses to give the appearance of a legitimate marriage, Raheel and Tatiana Farook signed a marriage license that said they witnessed a wedding ceremony that never happened.
With all of that planning, Marquez and Chernykh still were no-shows for their immigration hearing in late 2015, and their request to allow Chernykh to remain in the U.S. was denied.
That hearing had been scheduled for Dec. 3, 2015, the day after Rizwan Farook and wife Tashfeen Malik — using weapons illegally purchased by Farook’s longtime friend Marquez — killed 14 people and wounded 22 others during a San Bernardino County Division of Environmental Health holiday party at the Inland Regional Center. Rizwan Farook and Malik were killed hours later in a shootout with police.
Tatiana and Raheel Farook, and Marquez, were not part of the Dec. 2 conspiracy, authorities say.
Marquez attended La Sierra High and Riverside City College, both in Riverside. His sentencing on charges of providing material support to terrorists and making false statements on the firearms-purchase documents is set for Feb. 26.