11 Charged in ‘One of the Largest Marriage Fraud Prosecutions’ in U.S.
The Justice Department alleges the defendants conspired in a multimillion-dollar, decade-long scheme that involved more than 1,000 sham marriages to obtain legal immigration status in the U.S.
The U.S. Justice Department announced the charging of 11 individuals in what they described as "one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in United States' history." According to the unsealed indictment, the scheme involved over 1,000 sham marriages to secure legal immigration status for primarily Chinese nationals. The facilitators, who could charge up to $100,000 for their services, matched foreign nationals with willing U.S. citizens who paid around $30,000 to participate in the sham marriages.
The facilitators, recruiters, attorneys, tax preparers, and marriage officiants all played roles in the scheme. The indictment reveals that the facilitators and recruiters operated in New York but orchestrated marriages in other states, including Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
Overseas, facilitators oversaw marriages in China and Vanuatu. The defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison. Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the deception of the U.S. immigration system and pledged to pursue those involved in "birth tourism" schemes.
The State Department also opened a task force to identify and revoke visas of those involved in "birth tourism" practices, already revoking over 600 visas.
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