WASHINGTON—The US Department of Justice has filed charges
against 11 people accused of operating a network for over a decade dedicated to
arranging sham marriages to facilitate the fraudulent acquisition of green
cards.
Attorney General Todd Blanche described the case as one of
the largest marriage fraud investigations in US history. According to the
federal indictment, the organization allegedly coordinated more than 1,000
fictitious marriages, primarily between US citizens and Chinese nationals.
According to prosecutors, members of the network recruited
US citizens willing to marry foreigners in exchange for money. The individuals
involved then allegedly submitted applications and documentation to immigration
authorities to make the relationships appear genuine.
The indictment states that some of the foreigners paid up to
$100,000 per marriage, while participating US citizens could receive up to
$30,000 for agreeing to the union. Investigators maintain that the scheme
generated tens of millions of dollars.
The operation was allegedly centered in New York, but,
according to authorities, its activities extended to various states across the
country, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.