Feds bust one of the largest marriage fraud schemes in US history involving 1,000-plus Chinese sham unions
Nearly a dozen people tied to a decade-long marriage fraud network involving more than 1,000 sham unions face federal charges related to a scheme that charged Chinese nationals up to...
By Fox News · Fox News
Nearly a dozen people tied to a decade-long marriage fraud network involving more than 1,000 sham unions face federal charges related to a scheme that charged Chinese nationals up to $100,000 to participate in fake marriages to U.S. citizens in an effort to secure green cards, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. A federal indictment unsealed in New York City names 11 defendants — all naturalized U.S. citizens from China and one green card holder — for their roles in the marriage and immigration fraud scheme. They are charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration document fraud, as well as conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States, the Justice Department said. WOMAN EXPOSED RUNNING VISA FRAUD SCHEME SPANNING YEARS, POSING AS IMMIGRATION OFFICER The indictment is one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in the U.S., authorities said. "This scheme was not a quick fly-by-night operation, but rather a years-long, multimillion-dollar cottage industry to criminally assist people who would not, or legally could not, otherwise become citizens of the United States," U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters at a news conference Wednesday. Some of the defendants worked as facilitators, recruiters and officiants, authorities said. They were identified as: Amy Cheng, 72; Xiao Mei Chan, 64; Christine Lu, 52; Jing Yan Ye, 43; Xiao Yan Chen, 48; Gang Zheng, 61; Anthony Cheng, 47; Michelle Duenas, 35; Angela Duenas, 26; Sigrid Cetino, 32; and Erika Johnson, 43. DOJ MOVES TO STRIP CITIZENSHIP FROM 17 PEOPLE ACCUSED OF HIDING DISTURBING CRIMES The New York City-based fraud ran from at least 2016 through July 2026, involving mostly Chinese citizens who married U.S. citizens, prosecutors said. The network included facilitators who oversaw the scheme and identified foreigners, recruiters who found willing American citizens and helped ensure their continued participation, and assistants who prepared immigration paperwor…