Shilan Zhao, 53, of Newcastle, Washington, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit immigration fraud by submitting false documents to obtain U.S. visas through the EB-5 immigrant investor program. Zhao admitted in federal court to filing fraudulent paperwork under penalty of perjury, including a fake marriage certificate and falsified financial records to hide the true source of her investment funds.
The scheme, orchestrated alongside her ex-husband Jianjun Qiao, also known as Feng Li, 53 — a former Chinese government official and current fugitive — relied on deception to bypass legal immigration requirements. Despite their divorce, Zhao and Qiao falsely claimed to be married in their application materials. Prosecutors say the lies were essential to qualifying for immigrant visas under the EB-5 program, which mandates lawful, traceable investments of significant capital.
Charged in a March 2015 grand jury indictment that remains active against Qiao, Zhao now faces up to five years in federal prison. She pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson, who set sentencing for November 6. As part of her plea agreement, Zhao has agreed to cooperate with ongoing federal investigations and admitted that the false documents were prepared or obtained by her fugitive ex-husband.
At stake are multiple high-value real estate holdings. Zhao has agreed to forfeit her interest in several properties: parcels in Monterey Park, California; a house in Newcastle, Washington; and a condominium in Flushing, New York. Additionally, $25,000 posted as bond will be applied toward any restitution or financial penalties imposed at sentencing.
“We will continue to fight fraud and abuse in our immigration system,” said U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “Those who attempt to undermine the system by fraud threaten our national security and compromise the attempts of other immigrants who follow the rules.” Federal authorities emphasized that the integrity of legal immigration channels is under direct assault when programs like EB-5 are exploited.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles and IRS Criminal Investigation, with support from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Chinese authorities, including the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and Ministry of Public Security. “Schemes like this create a security vulnerability,” warned HSI Special Agent in Charge Joseph Macias. “HSI will aggressively target those who conspire to corrupt the integrity of America’s legal immigration system.”
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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