Eleven individuals have been indicted in a federal marriage fraud and bribery conspiracy case, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) playing a key role in the investigation, authorities said.
According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly recruited U.S. citizens—often members of the armed forces—to enter sham marriages with Chinese nationals seeking to bypass immigration laws and obtain lawful permanent resident status (Green Cards). The scheme spanned multiple states, including Florida, New York, Connecticut, and Nevada.
Investigators allege the conspirators staged marriages by taking photographs of couples to convince USCIS officials that the unions were genuine. Payments were structured in three phases: an upfront payment to the U.S. citizen spouse, a second payment once the Chinese national obtained legal immigration status, and a final payment after the couples divorced. Two individuals are specifically charged in a sham marriage that took place in Jacksonville in August 2024.
Four former U.S. Navy servicemembers involved in the scheme have pleaded guilty, with sentencing hearings pending. The indictment also alleges that three of the defendants conspired to bribe a public official, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Marriage fraud is a federal offense in the United States because it undermines the integrity of the immigration system. U.S. citizens or permanent residents who enter into a marriage solely to help a foreign national obtain a visa or green card can face criminal charges, fines, and imprisonment. Similarly, foreign nationals who participate in such schemes risk deportation, denial of future immigration benefits, and long-term bans on reentry. USCIS and federal law enforcement agencies actively investigate these schemes, which often involve elaborate efforts to make fake marriages appear legitimate.
Investigators said the case was handled jointly by USCIS, Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Mesrobian and Michael J. Coolican are prosecuting the matter. Authorities emphasized that an indictment is only a formal charge, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
