11 people indicted in 'multimillion-dollar marriage fraud scheme'
A foreign national (left), Anthony Cheng (center) and Erika Johnson (right) in a sham marriage ceremony on or about Jan. 15, 2025. Cheng, 47, of Staten Island, New York City, and Johnson, 43, of Ossining, New York, are two of the 11 people indicted in connection to a sham marriage operation. (Photo from the Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs’ Aug. 12 press release and the indictment)
Federal prosecutors in New York have indicted 11 people in connection to a sham marriage operation that they allege helped arrange more than 1,000 fraudulent marriages to aid foreign nationals illegally obtain green cards in the United States.
Each person—ranging in ages 26 to 72—is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud and one count of conspiracy to encourage unlawful residence in the United States. Prosecutors said the operation mostly involved Chinese citizens, according to coverage by USA Today.
Jamie McDonald, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the indictments in an Aug. 12 press release, stating: “The defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly operated a nationwide and international multimillion-dollar marriage fraud scheme, using participants to abuse United States immigration laws for their own profit.”
The two-count indictment alleges that the enterprise operated internationally from 2016 to 2025 and included many facilitators. Up to $100,000 per marriage was paid to recruiters who enlisted American citizens to participate in the operation, including people who prepared immigration paperwork and green card applications, marriage officiants, attorneys, tax preparers and insurance providers.
Fake marriages between foreign nationals and U.S. citizens were arranged in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, in addition to China and the Melanesian nation of Vanuatu.
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