{"id":2643726,"date":"2026-08-12T15:25:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T19:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-charges-11-in-alleged-decadelong-sham-marriage-scheme\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T15:31:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T19:31:54","slug":"doj-charges-11-in-alleged-decadelong-sham-marriage-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-charges-11-in-alleged-decadelong-sham-marriage-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ charges 11 in alleged decadelong sham marriage scheme"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-charges-11-in-alleged-decadelong-sham-marriage-scheme%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2643726&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Justice Department announced charges against 11 individuals for running a decade-long marriage fraud scheme from 2016 to 2026, involving over 1,000 sham marriages primarily between chinese nationals adn U.S. citizens aimed at securing green cards. The operation, described as one of the largest in U.S. history, allegedly generated tens of millions of dollars. Facilitators marketed fraudulent immigration services,recruiting U.S. citizens and charging clients up to $100,000 for marriage arrangements. They organized elaborate ceremonies, prepared fake immigration documents, and coached couples for USCIS interviews, often staging weddings with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/andrew-yangs-wife-chokes-up-over-racist-new-york-daily-news-cartoon\/\" title=\"Andrew Yang\u2019s Wife Chokes Up Over \u2018Racist\u2019 New York Daily News Cartoon\">traditional chinese clothing<\/a> and staged ceremonies. Some marriages used prenuptial agreements to show the relationships as fraudulent. The scheme also extended beyond New York to multiple states and countries, with authorities continuing investigations into additional involved parties.Defendants are expected to appear in federal court soon.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department <\/a>announced charges Wednesday against 11 people accused of orchestrating a decadelong <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marriage\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1429\">marriage<\/a> fraud operation that allegedly engineered more than 1,000 sham marriages between Chinese nationals and U.S. citizens to secure fraudulent green cards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his first press conference since he was sworn in this week, Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Todd-Blanche\/\">Todd Blanche<\/a> called the case \u201cone of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in United States history,\u201d alleging the operation was a yearslong, multimillion-dollar enterprise designed to help people obtain lawful permanent resident status through fraudulent marriages.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4684808\/doj-charges-sham-marriage-scheme-chinese-nationals-green-cards\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ charges 11 in alleged decadelong sham marriage scheme involving Chinese nationals<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4684259\/new-york-residents-ice-inflicting-unacceptable-terror\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>NYC residents say ICE has arrived and is inflicting \u2018unacceptable terror\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4683933\/ice-officers-electric-shock-gloves\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>ICE to outfit officers with \u2018bee sting\u2019 electroshock gloves for combative detainees<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\">A foreign national (left), Anthony Cheng (center), and Erika Johnson (right) in a sham marriage ceremony on or about Jan. 15, 2025. From the indictment. (Justice Department)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/Picture1.png?w=382&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A foreign national, left, Anthony Cheng, center, and Erika Johnson in an alleged sham marriage ceremony on or about Jan. 15, 2025. From the indictment. (Courtesy of the Justice Department)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A 21-page <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-sdny\/media\/1457526\/dl?inline\">indictment<\/a> unsealed in the Southern District of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"61\">New York<\/a> alleges the scheme ran from 2016 through 2026. Prosecutors identified Amy Cheng, Xiao Mei Chan, Gang Zheng, and eight others across the Empire State as alleged facilitators.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the indictment, the defendants marketed fraudulent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/immigration\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/immigration\/\">immigration<\/a> services through word of mouth, social media, and advertising, primarily to Chinese nationals. Clients allegedly paid facilitators up to $100,000 to arrange a marriage and pursue a green card application.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The facilitators allegedly recruited U.S. citizens to participate in the marriages, paying some as much as $30,000, Blanche said. Recruiters allegedly received commissions of about $5,000 for each arrangement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prosecutors said the defendants created a \u201cfull-service fraud scheme,\u201d arranging wedding ceremonies, hiring officiants and photographers, preparing immigration forms, opening joint bank and cellphone accounts, and coaching couples ahead of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services interviews.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In some instances, according to the indictment, the alleged weddings were staged at restaurants, where participants changed into traditional Chinese wedding clothing and invited friends and relatives to create the appearance of a legitimate ceremony. The indictment includes photographs prosecutors said were submitted to immigration authorities in support of green card applications.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The defendants also allegedly used prenuptial agreements to underscore the purportedly fraudulent nature of the marriages. One agreement stated that, apart from being husband and wife in name, \u201cboth parties live independently and must not interfere with each other,\u201d Blanche said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said the network generated \u201ctens of millions of dollars\u201d during its alleged operation and that the investigation began after prosecutors uncovered a communication in an unrelated case.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4682832\/doj-memo-gives-trump-playbook-shield-outside-advisers-democrats-win-subpoena-power\/\">DOJ MEMO GIVES TRUMP PLAYBOOK TO SHIELD OUTSIDE ADVISERS IF DEMOCRATS WIN SUBPOENA POWER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The alleged scheme extended beyond New York, with marriages arranged in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Vanuatu, and China, according to the indictment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McDonald said investigators are continuing to examine other people connected to the alleged network. The defendants are expected to make initial appearances in federal court in White Plains, New York.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ charges 11 in decade-long marriage fraud scheme involving Chinese nationals<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2643727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DOJ_sham_marriages.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[6909,3813,4901,4431,8020],"class_list":["post-2643726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-fraud","tag-immigration","tag-justice","tag-legal","tag-scheme"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DOJ_sham_marriages.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2643726"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643726\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2643730,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643726\/revisions\/2643730"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2643727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2643726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2643726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2643726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}