⏱ 2 min read
A massive marriage fraud scheme spanning over a decade has been dismantled in New York, with 11 defendants charged for orchestrating over 1,000 sham marriages for foreign nationals, primarily citizens of the People’s Republic of China. The scheme, which operated nationwide and internationally, involved defendants Amy Cheng, Xiao Mei Chan, Christine Lu, Jing Yan Ye, Xiao Yan Chen, Gang Zheng, Anthony Cheng, Michelle Duenas, Angela Duenas, Sigrid Cetino, and Erika Johnson. The defendants allegedly used participants to abuse United States immigration laws for their own profit, with the scheme being described as one of the largest marriage fraud schemes charged in United States history.
The arrests, which took place on the morning of the indictment, have dismantled a central component of the scheme. The defendants are expected to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court. The indictment is the result of a joint investigation by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the Attorney General for the United States, the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s office.
According to U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald, the defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly operated a multimillion-dollar marriage fraud scheme, using fake marriages to illegally obtain citizenship for foreign nationals. The scheme is a deliberate affront to the United States’ lawful immigration system, and the prosecution is a testament to the relentless pursuit of those seeking to corrupt and exploit it.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to root out fraud and corruption in the immigration system. As Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, the Department of Justice is committed to rooting out fraud everywhere, including in the immigration system.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: New York
- Location: NY
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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