Justice Department Charges 11 in Marriage Fraud Scheme

The Justice Department has announced criminal charges against 11 individuals accused of operating an extensive marriage fraud scheme involving over 1,000 sham marriages between Chinese nationals and U.S. citizens. This activity, detailed in a 21-page indictment filed in the Southern District of New York, reportedly spanned a decade from 2016 to 2026.

The indictment names Amy Cheng, Xiao Mei Chan, and Gang Zheng as the orchestrators of the scheme. The fraudulent marriages aimed to help Chinese nationals secure green cards in the U.S., leveraging fake marital ties to bypass immigration laws.

The alleged conspirators marketed these fraudulent services via word of mouth, social media, and varied advertising channels. Primarily targeting citizens of the People’s Republic of China, the facilitators charged foreign nationals up to $100,000 to arrange sham marriages and assist with green card applications. Facilitators allegedly received commissions of approximately $5,000 each.

To support immigration applications, the indictment includes photos of the purported sham marriage ceremonies. Prosecutors claim these ceremonies were often staged in restaurants with participants donning traditional Chinese wedding attire. To enhance the illusion of authenticity, friends and family were sometimes invited.

While the recruitment activities were centered in New York, the marriages were reportedly orchestrated across the United States and internationally. Locations included states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and even places like Vanuatu and China.