Jiaying Chen sentenced in Las Vegas for marriage-based fraud scheme

Jiaying Chen, a 33-year-old woman in Las Vegas, has been sentenced for a long-running scheme involving bigamy and fraud to fund a severe gambling addiction. Chen pleaded guilty to charges of bigamy and obtaining money by false pretenses after investigators discovered she had applied for 14 marriage licenses between 2019 and 2024, resulting in seven marriage certificates.

According to prosecutors, Chen met victims through social media and would quickly propose marriage. Once married, she frequently fabricated emergencies involving sick relatives in China to solicit large sums of money. Investigators found that the funds were not sent to relatives but were instead used to fuel her gambling habit at casinos such as Wynn Las Vegas.

Clark County District Judge Crystal Eller ordered Chen to serve nearly one year in the Clark County Detention Center, with credit for time already served, and placed her on two years of probation. She was also ordered to pay more than $280,000 in restitution to her victims. The sentence includes a suspended prison term of eight to 20 years, which could be activated if she violates probation. Additionally, Chen must undergo gambling addiction treatment and will be subject to electronic monitoring.