Summary
A two-count indictment was unsealed today charging 11 individuals with conspiring, over the course of more than a decade, to orchestrate more than 1,000 sham marriages to fraudulently obtain immigration status for foreign nationals, primarily citizens of the People’s Republic of China. Some individuals paid up to $100,000 per sham marriage, according to the indictment. “This DOJ (Department of Justice) is rooting out fraud everywhere — including in our immigration system,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Key details of the case
- Defendants charged: 11 individuals
- Duration of alleged scheme: More than a decade, from at least 2016 through July 2026
- Scale: More than 1,000 sham marriages allegedly orchestrated
- Primary foreign nationals involved: Citizens of the People’s Republic of China
- Payment: Some foreign nationals allegedly paid up to $100,000 per sham marriage
- U.S. citizens: Participating citizens were allegedly paid up to about $30,000
- Recruiter commissions: Up to approximately $5,000 for each citizen recruited
- Alleged proceeds: Tens of millions of dollars collected from foreign nationals seeking lawful permanent resident status
Enforcement actions and official statements
In addition, the defendants were arrested this morning and are expected to be arraigned today. According to the indictment, from at least 2016 through July 2026, the defendants operated a nationwide and international marriage fraud network that arranged sham marriages between foreign nationals. Primarily citizens of the People’s Republic of China — and United States citizens.
Although based principally in New York City, the network allegedly arranged sham marriages throughout the United States and overseas including in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Vanuatu. China. . The network included facilitators who oversaw the scheme and identified foreign-national customers. For complete details, refer to the official DOJ (Department of Justice) press release.
Recruiters and facilitators
Consequently, recruiters who found willing United States citizens and helped ensure their continued participation; and assistants who prepared immigration paperwork and coordinated the submission of fraudulent lawful permanent residency (Green Card) applications to USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). The scheme also relied on marriage officiants, attorneys, tax preparers, insurance providers, and other service providers.
Notably, foreign nationals paid facilitators as much as approximately $100,000 for a sham marriage and assistance obtaining lawful permanent resident status. Facilitators, in turn, allegedly paid participating U.S. citizens up to about $30,000. Generally in installments tied to milestones in the Green Card application process — and paid recruiters commissions of as much as approximately $5,000 for each citizen recruited.
How the sham marriages were arranged
Specifically, in total, the defendants and their co-conspirators recruited hundreds of U.S. citizens to enter into sham marriages. The defendants executed the fraud by pairing foreign nationals with U.S. citizens. The individuals would often meet for the first time immediately before obtaining a marriage license, arranging sham wedding ceremonies.
Subsequently, staging photographs designed to make those marriages appear legitimate. Some examples are below, including a photograph of a sham marriage that took place in China:. After the ceremonies, scheme participants manufactured evidence to make the marriages appear genuine, including by staging additional photographs, opening joint financial and utility accounts, filing joint tax returns.
At the same time, obtaining insurance policies. The defendants and their co-conspirators then prepared and submitted Green Card applications containing materially false statements and, when interviews with USCIS were required, coached the marriage participants on how to conceal the true nature of their relationships and provide false answers to immigration officers. . The defendants caused at least hundreds of fraudulent Green Card applications and supporting documents to be submitted to USCIS.
Scope of the alleged scheme
In particular, based on the scale and duration of the scheme, the defendants’ network is believed to have collected tens of millions of dollars from foreign nationals seeking lawful permanent resident status. At the time the defendants were arrested, law enforcement executed premises search warrants at multiple locations in New York including Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Flushing, Queens.
Charges and potential penalties
Furthermore, the defendants have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, which, if convicted, carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The defendants have also each been charged with one count of conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States, which, if convicted, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. HSI, Hudson Valley; the FBI, Safe Streets Task Force; the USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate; the U.S.
Investigation and prosecution details
Army Criminal Investigation Division; and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office are investigating this case. Attorneys Jake Sidransky and Reyhan Watson for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case. An indictment merely contains accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.