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U.S. Department of Justice charges 11 in massive marriage fraud scheme
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged 11 individuals in connection with a massive, decade-long marriage fraud scheme designed to help foreign nationals, primarily Chinese citizens, obtain green cards.
According to federal indictments, the operation functioned as a multimillion-dollar industry, arranging more than 1,000 sham marriages. Facilitators allegedly charged foreign nationals as much as $100,000 per marriage, while recruiting U.S. citizens to participate for payments of up to $30,000. The network included various service providers, such as attorneys, tax preparers, insurance providers, and marriage officiants.
The scheme, which reportedly operated from at least 2016, was based primarily in New York but involved arrangements across several U.S. states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida, as well as in Vanuatu and China. Each defendant faces charges of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud.
Entities
China · Department of Justice · New York · Todd Blanche · United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud. americanfaith.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The operation primarily targeted Chinese nationals. theshaderoom.com · wpdh.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] U.S. citizens were paid as much as $30,000 to participate in the sham marriages. theshaderoom.com · wpdh.com
- [DISPUTED] The scheme operated from at least 2016 through July 2026. americanfaith.com · wpdh.com
- [DISPUTED] The Department of Justice charged 11 individuals for participating in a marriage fraud scheme. americanfaith.com · theshaderoom.com · wpdh.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The scheme allegedly involved more than 1,000 sham marriages. americanfaith.com · theshaderoom.com · wpdh.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Foreign nationals paid up to $100,000 for fraudulent marriages. americanfaith.com · theshaderoom.com · wpdh.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The defendants included marriage officiants, attorneys, tax preparers, and insurance providers. americanfaith.com