US prosecutors have indicted 11 people connected to a network that operated for a decade, arranging over 1,000 fake marriages, primarily for Chinese citizens seeking green cards. Attorney General Todd Blanche described it as "the largest marriage fraud case in US history," a scheme designed to circumvent US immigration laws. The 21-page indictment was released on 12/8 in a New York federal court, followed by a press conference in Washington on the same day.

The operation involved approximately 11 soldiers stationed at a US Army base in Kentucky, who were paired with Chinese citizens between May 2023 and August 2025. This elaborate scheme facilitated numerous fraudulent unions.

A foreign national (left), one of the 11 suspects Anthony Cheng (center) and US citizen Erika Johnson in a fake wedding on 15/1/2025. Photo: SCMP

The 10 arrested suspects are naturalized US citizens of Chinese origin, while one holds a green card. They face charges of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, carrying a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. Additionally, they are charged with conspiracy to harbor undocumented foreign nationals in the US, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Attorney General Blanche revealed that Chinese citizens paid up to USD 100,000 for a fake marriage with a US citizen. This allowed them to apply for a green card, granting them the right to reside and work in the US. In exchange, the US citizen spouse received USD 30,000 for each fraudulent marriage.

Jamie McDonald, federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, explained the suspects' methods. They recruited US citizens to participate, arranging realistic wedding ceremonies complete with officiants, wedding dresses, photographers, and guests. "The suspects profited immensely," McDonald stated, adding, "We believe this ring pocketed tens of millions of USD over a decade of operation."

Hong Hanh (According to AFP, SCMP)