11 Charged in ‘One of the Largest Marriage Fraud Prosecutions’ in U.S.

According to the unsealed indictment, foreign nationals allegedly paid a group of “facilitators” as much as $100,000 for their assistance in getting fraudulently married and applying for lawful permanent residency in the U.S.—or a green card. The facilitators paired each foreign national with a willing U.S. citizen, who was onboarded by “recruiters” and whom they usually paid up to about $30,000 to engage in the sham marriage.

Blanche added that the facilitators allegedly employed attorneys, tax preparers, and even marriage officiants.

The indictment contained photos of alleged sham marriage ceremonies that prosecutors claimed were submitted to federal authorities to support their clients’ green card applications. 

The indictment also stated that while the facilitators and the recruiters mainly operated in New York, they also orchestrated fraudulent marriages in other states, including Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Prosecutors also alleged that the facilitators oversaw marriages overseas, such as in China and Vanuatu.