U.S. Department of Justice indicts 11 in massive marriage fraud ring

The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment charging 11 individuals with operating a marriage fraud ring that allegedly facilitated over 1,000 sham weddings over the past decade.

The network reportedly paired foreign nationals, primarily from the People’s Republic of China, with U.S. citizens to help the former obtain legal status and green cards. According to the indictment, facilitators charged foreign nationals as much as $100,000 per marriage. U.S. citizens participating in the scheme allegedly received up to $30,000 in installments, while recruiters earned approximately $5,000 per person signed up.

Defendants held various roles in the organization, including identifying customers, recruiting U.S. citizens, and coordinating the submission of immigration paperwork. Officials stated that the scheme has resulted in tens of millions of dollars in collected fees throughout its operation.