The U.S. Department of Justice has charged 11 individuals in what prosecutors describe as a decade-long, multimillion-dollar marriage fraud operation that allegedly arranged more than 1,000 sham marriages to help foreign nationals obtain lawful permanent residence in the United States. The indictment was unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Alleged Nationwide and International Network
Federal prosecutors allege that the network operated from at least 2016 through July 2026, pairing foreign nationals primarily citizens of China with U.S. citizens willing to enter into fake marriages in exchange for payment. Authorities say the scheme extended beyond New York to several other states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida, and also involved activities in China and Vanuatu.
Financial Structure of the Scheme
According to court documents, foreign nationals allegedly paid up to $100,000 for a sham marriage and assistance with green-card applications, while participating U.S. citizens were allegedly paid up to $30,000 in installments tied to immigration milestones. Recruiters reportedly received commissions of up to $5,000 for each American citizen they brought into the operation. Prosecutors estimate the network generated tens of millions of dollars over the course of the scheme.
Methods Used to Simulate Legitimate Marriages
Investigators say the defendants arranged staged wedding ceremonies, hired officiants and photographers, opened joint bank and utility accounts, filed joint tax returns, and created other fabricated evidence to make the marriages appear genuine. Participants were also allegedly coached before interviews with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to conceal the true nature of their relationships. Authorities say the scheme resulted in hundreds of fraudulent green-card applications being submitted to USCIS.
Government Response and Investigation
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the arrests demonstrate the government’s determination to protect the integrity of the immigration system, while U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald called the case “one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in United States history.” Homeland Security Investigations and USCIS assisted in the investigation, and search warrants were executed at multiple locations in Brooklyn and Queens.
Charges and Potential Penalties
The defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Most of the defendants were arrested in New York and were scheduled to appear in White Plains federal court.
Broader Immigration Fraud Crackdown
The case comes amid a broader federal crackdown on immigration-related fraud schemes, including efforts targeting sham marriages, fraudulent visa applications, and other attempts to obtain immigration benefits through false representations. Prosecutors emphasized that the charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
