Federal authorities have arrested 10 individuals accused of orchestrating a marriage fraud scheme spanning a decade, which facilitated around 1,000 sham marriages between U.S. citizens and Chinese nationals. The scheme aimed to help the foreign nationals obtain green cards through fraudulent means.
The defendants face charges including conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, immigration document fraud, and conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the U.S. Prosecutors allege that the fake unions were sold for up to $100,000 each. As part of the arrangement, American participants were reportedly paid approximately $30,000 to take part in the staged ceremonies and subsequent applications submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The indictment, filed in the Southern District of New York, indicates that the conspiracy involved attorneys, tax preparers, and individuals acting as bogus marriage officiants. The investigation has uncovered evidence including images of sham marriage ceremonies, some purportedly held between 2023 and 2025. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York was scheduled to provide further details at a press conference on Wednesday.
This operation represents a significant effort to combat immigration fraud and maintain the integrity of the U.S. legal residency system.