The Wildest Crimes Of 90 Day Fiancé Stars
The following article mentions murder, sexual assault, substance abuse, child abuse, and domestic violence.
It appears that TLC struck gold when the network premiered its reality TV show "90 Day Fiancé" back in 2014. The series was much different than your average "dating" show in that it focuses on international couples who either have or applied for a Visa that is used for foreigners betrothed to U.S. citizens. Because of that, the couples have 90 days to get married or, for the show's purposes, split if they decide not to go through with it.
While the whole "mail-order bride" or the "marrying for a green card" cliches do make it sound sketchy, "90 Day Fiancé" has clearly been a hit with fans since it not only lasted nine seasons but even led to 18 spin-off shows with similar premises. The show also made ordinary people looking for love (or U.S. citizenship) TV stars like Ed "Big Ed" Brown and Larissa Dos Santos Lima. According to Us Weekly, there are even a lot of celebrities who have spoken about being fans of the franchise, like Pete Davidson, Sophie Turner, and Amy Schumer. Seth Rogen, for example, once told Vanity Fair, "I'm a fan of the 90 Day Fiancé-verse ... There's a lot of satellite shows. I love them all."
However, with that success comes some controversy because many of the people who have appeared on those shows have criminal pasts. Some have been in a lot more trouble than others too, which is why we're breaking down the wildest crimes of "90 Day Fiancé" stars.
Michael Baltimore was wanted for murder
Michael Baltimore didn't necessarily star in "90 Day Fiancé," but he did make appearances as a barber on the spinoff "90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?" Fans may even remember that it was Baltimore and his boss, Kendell Jerome Cook, who, per People, told star Ashley Martson that her then-husband had cheated on her at their Pennsylvania barbershop in 2019. It seems it was also Baltimore who committed the wildest crime of the cast since he actually made the U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted list for Cook's murder.
According to ET, Baltimore went on the run for months after allegedly shooting and killing Cook and injuring another employee at the barbershop in May 2021. U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis even offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and stated, "Michael Baltimore poses a serious threat to the community." Baltimore was eventually captured in January 2023 after getting pulled over for fleeing a bar fight in Florida that involved him threatening to shoot someone. Police also found fentanyl, ecstasy pills, marijuana, a loaded gun, and fraudulent identification on him.
Baltimore was then charged in Florida for those crimes as well. A Pennsylvania district attorney, Sean McCormac, said in a Marshals statement (via CNN), "Now that he is in custody, we can finally begin the court process where he will be facing first-degree murder charges." Marston later commented on Baltimore's arrest, too, writing on an Instagram story (via Yahoo), "Praise God! I hope these families get the closure they desperately needed now."
Geoffrey Paschel was sentenced for kidnapping
Geoffrey Paschel is another TLC star who has committed some serious crimes since he was convicted of assaulting and kidnapping an ex in 2021. While Paschel starred in "90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days" with fiancé Varya Malina in 2020, E! reports that he was arrested in 2019 for beating his then-fiance, Kristen Wilson Chapman. The Knox County District Attorney General's Office revealed, "Paschel took the victim's cell phone and did not allow her to leave the residence. The victim fled to a neighbor's house after Paschel fell asleep."
During the trial, Paschel claimed that Chapman's injuries were self-inflicted and that she was the one who had been drunk and aggressive. Regardless, Paschel was found guilty and sentenced to 18 years in prison without the possibility of parole. "With the sentence in this case, no other victims will be abused by this offender for a long time," District Attorney Charme Allen said. Yet Paschel still had the support of Malina, who, per In Touch, was at court and later wrote on Instagram, "There's only one way up! The grounds for the appeal became even stronger."
People reported that Paschel's criminal history was factored into his sentencing. Before appearing on the show, he served prison time for drug charges. Because of that, many fans called for TLC to fire him. He responded to them on Instagram, writing, "I can never go back, and honestly, I would not have it any different. I have realized who my 'people' are."
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support on their website.
Paul Staehle was convicted of arson
There apparently was more than one convicted felon on "90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days," considering that Paul Staehle had a fiery past of his own before appearing on the show. The Kentucky native had been found guilty in 2014 of committing arson as well as "Burning Personal Property To Defraud Insurer" in 2007, according to Starcasm. He apparently served time in prison because of it and was later on probation which eventually got terminated early.
However, that arson wasn't Staehle's only brush with the law since a year before that he was charged with violating a protective order in 2013. He blamed that on an ex-girlfriend, though, taking to Facebook to post his warrant as proof. He explained (via Starcasm), "It's sad I actually feel I have to post this. I filed the initial EPO. She then filed one after she was served." It appeared that Staehle had also suggested on the show that he was arrested because of an ex. He dished, per In Touch, "One of the relationships I was in ended so badly, it ended up getting me in some serious trouble."
While Staehle's then-fiancé, Karine Martins, was able to look past his crimes, the two eventually split. That wasn't the end of his legal drama either since In Touch reported that he and Martins lost custody of their young sons in 2022. That was apparently due to a domestic altercation that circulated online and led to several issues between the pair.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support on their website.
Ronald Smith's gambling addiction led to burglary
It seems that "90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way" star Ronald Smith's crimes had all stemmed from his gambling addiction. According to Starcasm, he admitted that on an episode, "I would steal stuff by my house. I'd go and pawn my mother's stuff." He continued, "I got locked up for drinking and driving. I got locked up for speeding. And ... my mom locked me up for burglary."
Smith's criminal past apparently made relocating to the U.S. more difficult. Because of that, his partner, Tiffany Franco, met with immigration lawyers to discuss his arrests for armed robbery, drug possession, and stealing money. While she tried to defend him, saying, "The armed robbery was proven that it wasn't him," she did add that she didn't know about him stealing money. "I didn't ask a lot of questions. I probably should," she said. In another episode, Franco also defended Smith's drug possession charge to her dad. She dished, "He's already explained this, that it was in his friend's jacket, and he used his friend's jacket, and entering a bar, they took him."
The former couple still had hope for Smith's future. During a tell-all special, Franco explained (via In Touch), "When he looked further into the details on the record, seeing that he's never been convicted of any charge, it's all been withdrawn. So technically speaking, his record is clear." Unfortunately, they ended up splitting anyway, with U.S. Weekly reporting that they both accused each other of cheating.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Jon Walters has a violent past
It's safe to say that "90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days" star Jon Walters had a problem with violence. He admitted it himself on an episode, confessing, "I've been in 50 or 60 fights, five instances of where I got convicted." Walters had revealed his past to his fiancé, Rachel Bear, on the show, explaining that he gets violent with people who are violent with him. It seemed more difficult for him to share his most serious offense, though, which was when he was charged with bodily harm without intent while in college. Walters recalled, "I got really mad, and they tried grabbing me, and by the end of it, they all got punched." He added that one of the victims sustained a serious eye injury.
According to In Touch, Walters had blamed his past for his aggression. "When I was young, I grew up in not a great area, having to choose between being stamped on or fighting to get away," he explained. Yet he also told Bears that she had changed that mindset for her, gushing, "Growing up, I never had anything to lose by fighting, and now I have."
That apparently didn't change Bears' friend's minds, though, since they expressed concerns about his criminal record after she told them about his history. Walters' own friends even confirmed he had a knack for punching people, joking, "Jon's burnt himself out in England. He's had to go across the pond!" (via Reality Tea).
Jorge Nava got pulled over with 300 lbs of marijuana
Jorge Nava's crime of possessing marijuana may not seem that wild, considering that weed is now legal in many states. Yet what was interesting was that, per TMZ, the "90 Day Fiancé" star was driving around with almost 300 pounds of marijuana when he got pulled over in Arizona in 2018. Nava was eventually convicted on felony possession charges and was sentenced to two and half years in prison, according to In Touch. However, he was released after a year and eight months.
You could say that jail was good for Nava, though, since he dropped a whopping 128 pounds. He also revealed, "I was able to sort of grow mentally and ... kind of be able to control my emotions so that I can think [positively]. I got to really change my lifestyle." The downside was that his wife, Anfisa Arkhipchenko, left him because of his new look. "She did tell me... that she didn't want anything to do with me and that it was over," he said.
Some fans even believe it was Arkhipchenko who led Nava to sell drugs because she threatened to leave him if he couldn't keep up with her expensive lifestyle. She once said on the show, "He promised to get me whatever I want. Now that I'm here, he keeps telling me he can't afford everything." From the looks of Nava's Instagram, he's still in the marijuana business these days, but this time he's seemingly doing it legally.
Larissa Dos Santos Lima was arrested thrice for domestic violence
The craziest aspect of "90 Day Fiancé" star Larissa Dos Santos Lima's crimes is that she allegedly got arrested three times for getting physical with her now-ex Colt Johnson. Her first arrest is pretty wild on its own since, according to Heavy, Lima was charged with domestic violence against Johnson mere days before their June wedding. They still ended up getting married, but months later, in November, she was arrested again for the same thing. Both those cases were eventually dismissed.
Then in 2019, Lima was arrested for a third time after the former couple got into another fight. E! reports that she took to Instagram to blame Johnson though by posting a photo of her bloody face. She also said in a video, "l be deported. I just scratched him because he hurt me ... but he called the police first." However, the court documents for the case claim that she "did willfully and unlawfully use force or violence" and that she struck him "on the head."
Luckily for Lima, she was able to strike a deal with prosecutors to get her charge downgraded to disorderly conduct. Her attorney explained, "This negotiation will not impede her ability to obtain citizenship." Yet a year later in 2020, Us Weekly reported that Lima was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. She was released once they checked on her immigration status, with Lima also clarifying in a since-deleted post on her Instagram that she was "good to go."
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support on their website.
Darcey Silva fought with her twin sister
What makes "Before the 90 Days" star Darcey Silva's crime wacky is the fact that she got arrested for disorderly conduct after getting into a physical fight with her own twin sister, Stacey Silva. According to the police report obtained by Starcasm, "[A witness] stated that they both started arguing with each other, and it eventually escalated into a 'cat fight.'" The responding officers also wrote that punches weren't thrown but that they were "mutually attacking each other" and "were pushing and pulling each other around the house."
According to In Touch, Stacey later revealed on the "90 Day Fiancé Live" after-show that the fight was over Darcey's now-ex, Jesse Meester. "It was just tit for tats that night ... I tried to open her eyes on many occasions to let her know that I feel like [Jesse] was not being a good person to her and manipulating her," she said. When asked about the fight on Instagram, Meester wrote, via Starcasm, "I am not getting into it since I am not with her ... I do not want to be associated with this craziness anymore."
Stacey also dished that at the end of the day, she and Darcey are sisters who love each other but can get into fights like any other siblings. Yet Stacey did deny the claims that she and Darcey got physical. Stacey explained, "It was just blown out of proportion. We did argue; it was late at night ... but we learned our lesson."
Danielle Mullins JBali had a criminal record
Many fans were apparently surprised to find out that "90 Day Fiancé" star Danielle Mullins JBali had a criminal record, having been arrested years before she appeared on the show. According to Starcasm, her first arrest happened in 2004. She explained, "I stopped payment on a check, and when that expired, the person tried to cash it and then took me to court for passing a bad check." That next year she was also charged with felony theft and forgery. Yet she was able to get that dropped down to a misdemeanor theft which she got probation for.
JBali owned up to her past mistakes on Facebook, writing (via In Touch), "I used someone's credit card, and it was a mistake," adding, "I regret it, and I paid my restitution." Fans of the show still lambasted her, though, with one person tweeting that she wouldn't be able to be a nurse because of it. Yet Jbali responded, "My criminal charges don't count because they are misdemeanors, not felonies."
JBali's ex-husband had also accused her on "90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After" of using his credit card and a fake account in his name. After their split, he even may have posted her arrest record on Reddit. However, JBali seems over people criticizing her past. She dished to Starcasm, "People make mistakes and regret it, but it does not mean they are a bad person. There are circumstances that explain why people do stuff."
Cheating led to Yve Arellano's arrest
The time of "90 Day Fiancé" star Yve Arellano's crime was pretty intriguing considering that she was arrested for domestic assault and battery just weeks after she discovered her now-ex, Mohamed Abdelhamed, was cheating on her on TV. According to a police report acquired by In Touch, Abdelhamed told officers that once Arellano found out about his texting affair, she tried to take his phone violently. "He said she sat on top of him and put her knee to his throat to try and force him to release the phone," the report read. On the day of the arrest, Abdelhamed said Arellano put her hands on his face, and he feared she'd attack him.
What's more, Abdelhamed told police that Arellano had abused him throughout their relationship and that he was afraid to report it because she had threatened to have him deported. He also claimed that Arellano gets violent when she's drinking and even provided officers with an audio recording of him pleading with her not to strike him.
Arellano denied the accusations, with her rep telling Page Six, "The domestic abuse allegations are completely false and just a ploy to keep him in the U.S." They continued, "Yve has never been abusive toward Mohamed and just wants this chapter in her life to be done so she can move forward." While Abdelhamed had moved out before Arellano's arrest, the two broke up for good because Abdelhamed had claimed Arellano had cheated as well.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support on their website.
Angela Deem's daughter went to jail for child molestation
Scottie Deem may not have been a star on "90 Day Fiancé," but her mother, Angela Deem, was, so Scottie would often appear on the show. And while Angela had an arrest record herself, having once been charged with DUI, her daughter's crimes were far more serious. That's because, according to Radar, in 2017, Scottie was arrested for aggravated child molestation and aggravated sodomy after the victim's grandmother alerted the police. The police report stated, "Ms. Scottie Deem ... had Juvenile at her home while her boyfriend was out of town," adding, "While the Juvenile was there with her and her children, Ms. Deem had sexual intercourse with Juvenile."
Starcasm reports that Scottie was eventually sentenced to three 20-year prison sentences after pleading guilty to three child molestation charges. Around that time, Angela took to Facebook to reflect, "No matter what you face in life, don't let go of God's hands" (via In Touch). Scottie then somehow got released from jail after only 15 months. What had made matters worse for Angela, though, was that The Hollywood Gossip reported that someone accused her of being involved in Scottie's crimes by taking Scottie's children out of the home while Scottie was with the victim. Yet that was never proven, and Angela was never charged.
All in all, while many people from the "90 Day Fiancé" franchise have committed some wild crimes, it seems that at least some of them have learned from their mistakes.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).