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Federal Indictment Charges 11 Individuals in Green Card Marriage Fraud Scheme
Just the facts
According to court documents, facilitators Amy Cheng, Xiao Mei Chan, and Gang Zheng managed the enterprise from 2016 to 2026 using social media and word-of-mouth advertising. Foreign nationals paid facilitators up to $100,000 each to arrange fake marriages and submit fraudulent documentation to U.S. immigration authorities. Recruiters earned commissions of approximately $5,000 per arrangement while organizing staged wedding ceremonies at local restaurants where participants wore traditional Chinese wedding attire. Prosecutors alleged that the network orchestrated fraudulent marriages across multiple jurisdictions, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.
Why this is news
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York unsealed a 21-page indictment charging 11 individuals for organizing an extensive marriage fraud scheme. The operation arranged over 1,000 sham marriages between U.S. citizens and Chinese nationals seeking lawful permanent resident status.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.