The Justice Department has announced criminal charges against 11 individuals involved in a significant marriage fraud operation. This scheme allegedly included over 1,000 fake marriages between Chinese nationals and U.S. citizens.
The 21-page indictment, issued in New York’s Southern District, covers activities from 2016 to 2026. Key figures in the operation are identified as Amy Cheng, Xiao Mei Chan, and Gang Zheng.
The main purpose of these sham marriages was to help Chinese nationals acquire green cards in the U.S. According to the indictment, the defendants marketed false immigration services to foreign nationals, targeting mainly Chinese citizens. They used multiple channels including word of mouth, social media, and advertising to promote their services.
The documents reveal that foreign nationals paid up to $100,000 for a sham marriage and green card application assistance. Facilitators reportedly earned commissions around $5,000 for arranging these marriages.
The indictment included photos showing alleged sham marriage ceremonies, submitted to U.S. immigration officials as part of green card applications. Some ceremonies took place in restaurants, with participants donning traditional Chinese wedding clothes. Friends and family were often invited to enhance the illusion of legitimate unions.
While many recruiters were based in New York, the scheme allegedly spanned across the U.S. and international locations. Marriages were orchestrated in states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida, as well as in Vanuatu and China.
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