OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
4:30 PM – Wednesday, August 12, 2026
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed a two-count indictment charging 11 individuals for orchestrating a massive, decade-long marriage fraud network that arranged over 1,000 sham marriages.
Federal prosecutors described the operation as one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in U.S. history, spanning “from 2016 through July 2026 and generating tens of millions of dollars in illegal revenue.”
The criminal scheme primarily aimed to secure fraudulent green cards and lawful permanent residency for foreign nationals, predominantly citizens of the People’s Republic of China, the DOJ noted.
According to the 21-page indictment unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the defendants marketed their services through social media, word of mouth and targeted advertising.
Foreigners reportedly paid the enterprise up to $100,000 each to facilitate a fake marriage and process green card applications. In turn, the network recruited U.S. citizens to act as spouses, paying them up to $30,000 per arrangement, while recruiters pocketed commissions of around $5,000 for every participant enrolled.
Federal officials explained further how the syndicate functioned as a “full-service” operation designed to systematically evade federal immigration checks. Facilitators hired officiants and photographers, staged wedding ceremonies — sometimes at local restaurants where participants wore traditional attire to fabricate authenticity — and generated fake documentation.
To convince U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers of legitimate marital relationships, conspirators opened joint bank accounts, split cell phone plans, created joint tax returns and even coached couples on how to lie during official immigration interviews. Conspirators also drafted secret prenuptial agreements stating that the couples would remain independent and not interfere in each other’s lives.
While based heavily in New York, the network’s operations extended across multiple states — including Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Tennessee — as well as internationally to China and Vanuatu.
The investigation reportedly originated after prosecutors uncovered incriminating communications during an unrelated case, leading to multi-agency collaboration among federal law enforcement partners, USCIS, and the DOJ.
Each of the 11 named defendants face federal charges including conspiracy to commit marriage and immigration fraud, alongside encouraging unlawful residence. If convicted on all counts, the defendants face maximum statutory penalties of up to 15 years in federal prison.
Law enforcement authorities noted that the investigation remains ongoing as federal agencies continue to examine additional participants and facilitators connected to the network.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments!
Sponsored Content Below
Be the first to comment