The U.S. Department of Justice charged 11 people in an alleged marriage-fraud scheme prosecutors say operated for more than a decade and arranged over 1,000 sham marriages, primarily involving Chinese nationals. The indictment filed in the Southern District of New York alleges organizers staged ceremonies and fabricated supporting records—such as joint bank accounts and insurance policies—to secure immigration benefits. Authorities say the operation generated "tens of millions of dollars," with clients paying up to $100,000 and participating U.S. citizens receiving up to $30,000. Federal officials called the case one of the largest marriage-fraud prosecutions in U.S. history.
DOJ Charges 11 in Alleged Decade-Long Marriage Fraud Ring Involving 1,000+ Sham Weddings
Attorney General Todd Blanche and others are shown during a press conference Wednesday at the Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Justice Department announced criminal charges against 11 people they allege participated in a fraud scheme that involved more than 1,000 fraudulent marriages between Chinese nationals and U.S. citizens. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Aug. 12 (UPI) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday that 11 people have been criminally charged in an alleged marriage fraud operation prosecutors say ran for more than a decade and arranged in excess of 1,000 sham marriages.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jamie McDonald, left, looks on as Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks during a press conference Wednesday at the Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Justice Department announced criminal charges against 11 people they allege participated in a scheme that involved more than 1,000 fraudulent marriages between Chinese nationals and U.S. citizens. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
The indictment, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges the defendants conspired to pair foreign nationals—mostly citizens of China—with U.S. citizens in order to secure immigration benefits. Authorities say organizers staged wedding ceremonies, took photographs intended to appear authentic and fabricated corroborating records such as joint bank accounts and insurance policies to convince immigration officials the unions were legitimate.
Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks during a press conference Wednesday at the Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Justice Department announced criminal charges against 11 people they allege participated in a scheme that involved more than 1,000 fraudulent marriages between Chinese nationals and U.S. citizens. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
"The individuals who were arrested today allegedly orchestrated elaborate schemes to illegally obtain citizenship for foreign nationals through sham marriages," Attorney General Todd Blanche said. "Schemes like this are a deliberate affront to the United States and our laws and will not be tolerated under the Trump administration."
Prosecutors say some clients paid as much as $100,000 to secure a fraudulent marriage, with participating U.S. citizens reportedly receiving up to $30,000. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jamie McDonald described the operation as a long-running, multimillion-dollar enterprise that generated "tens of millions of dollars." He called the prosecution one of the largest marriage-fraud cases in U.S. history.
Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks during a press conference Wednesday at the Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Justice Department announced criminal charges against 11 people they allege participated in a scheme that involved more than 1,000 fraudulent marriages between Chinese nationals and U.S. citizens. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Named in the indictment as alleged organizers are Amy Cheng, Xiao Mei Chan, Gang Zheng and Xiao Yan Chan. Other defendants are described as "recruiters"—individuals who located U.S. citizens willing to participate—and "officiators" who performed the ceremonies. According to the indictment, conspirators took additional steps to manufacture convincing evidence aimed at withstanding immigration scrutiny.
How the Scheme Allegedly Worked
Officials say the operation operated like a commercial enterprise: organizers matched foreign nationals with U.S. citizens, staged ceremonies and created supporting documentation to create the appearance of genuine marriages. Large fees and complex financial transactions were allegedly used to conceal the fraudulent nature of the unions.
Federal authorities announced arrests and charges at a news conference at Justice Department headquarters in Washington, D.C., signaling the government’s commitment to pursuing large-scale marriage fraud that undermines the integrity of the immigration system.
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