US Charges 11 in ‘One of Largest Marriage Fraud’ Cases

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Washington DC: United States federal authorities have arrested eleven people in Washington for allegedly orchestrating one of the largest marriage fraud schemes in American history.

The multi-million-dollar syndicate organized over 1,000 sham marriages over a decade to secure legal residency for foreign nationals, mostly Chinese citizens.

Attorney General Todd Blanche characterized the operation as a years-long industry designed to bypass immigration laws. Foreign clients paid up to $100,000 to secure a green card, while recruited American spouses were paid up to $30,000 to engage in the fraudulent marriages.

To deceive federal officials, the syndicate staged elaborate wedding ceremonies complete with attire, officiants, photographers, and fake attendees.

According to US Attorney Jamie McDonald, the defendants pocketed tens of millions of dollars from the elaborate arrangements over the past decade.

Ten of the defendants arrested on Wednesday are naturalized US citizens originally from China, while the remaining individual is a green card holder.

The group faces federal charges of conspiracy to commit marriage and immigration fraud, which carry up to five years in prison, and conspiracy to encourage unlawful residence, carrying up to ten years.