US charges 11 over sham marriages for green cards
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The US Justice Department said on Wednesday, August 12, that 11 people were criminally charged over an alleged large-scale marriage fraud scheme tied to immigration benefits . Prosecutors alleged the network arranged more than 1,000 sham marriages between Chinese nationals and US citizens, with some clients paying as much as US$100,000 to obtain lawful permanent resident status . A 21-page indictment filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York said the scheme operated from at least 2016 through this year . The department described the case as one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in US history .
Key Points
- The indictment alleges six defendants acted as coordinators, marketing fake immigration services through word of mouth, social media and advertisements .
- Prosecutors said the main customers were from China and were promised sham marriages to help secure US green cards .
- According to the indictment, US citizens who entered the fake marriages were paid US$30,000 each for participating .
- Recruiters who found US citizens for the marriages allegedly received commissions of US$5,000 per match .
- The filing included photos of suspected sham wedding ceremonies, some held in nearby restaurants with traditional Chinese wedding clothing .
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case underscores how immigration demand can fuel cross-border criminal services that operate through social media, personal referrals and overseas networks . It also shows that US authorities are treating marriage-based immigration fraud as an organized, multi-year business involving large sums of money rather than isolated false filings .