FBI Arrests Three In San Bernardino Inquiry

The FBI has arrested three people in an alleged marriage fraud conspiracy uncovered during the investigation into last year's mass shooting in San Bernardino.

Federal agents detained the gunman's older brother, his Russian immigrant wife and her sister during raids on Thursday morning in the Californian cities of Corona and Ontario.

Syed Raheel Farook, 31, his wife Tatiana Gigliotti, also 31, and her sister, Mariya Chernykh, are accused of conspiracy to make a false statement to immigration officials while under oath.

Chernykh, 26, who was wed to another suspect in the terrorism investigation, is also charged with fraud and two counts of making material false statements to federal agents.

In the 2 December mass shooting at San Bernardino, California, Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and his wife Tashfeen Malik, 29, shot dead 14 people before being killed by police.

Raheel Farook's wife's sister is married to Enrique Marquez, a former neighbour of the San Bernardino attackers.

Marquez was charged in December with conspiracy to support terrorism and lying about the purchase of the assault rifles used in the shooting.

Marquez was also accused of entering into a sham marriage with Chernykh, who lives in Ontario.

On Thursday, investigators said that marriage was for Chernykh to obtain immigration benefits that she could not access because she lacked legal status in the US.

Federal agents already searched the Corona home of the gunman's brother in February.

Neighbours had reported seeing agents carrying out papers, manila envelopes and computer equipment from Raheel Farook's house.

No one was arrested on that occasion.