11 Charged in $100k Sham Marriage Scheme

The US Justice Department has charged 11 people for allegedly participating in a decade-long scheme involving over 1,000 sham marriages to help Chinese nationals obtain green cards. The scheme, which generated tens of millions of dollars, was allegedly run by defendants including Amy Cheng, Xiao Mei Chan, and Gang Zheng.

The scheme involved pairing Chinese nationals with US citizens, with foreign nationals paying up to $100,000 for the sham marriage service. US citizens were paid up to $30,000 to participate in the sham marriages. At least 14 active-duty American soldiers were paired with Chinese citizens in sham marriages.

The US Army Criminal Investigation Division is among the agencies investigating the case. The scheme operated from 2016 to 2026 and was allegedly facilitated by defendants using word of mouth, social media, and various forms of advertising to market fraudulent immigration services to foreign nationals.

Attorney General Todd Blanche described the case as 'one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in United States history'. The alleged sham marriages were arranged to help assist Chinese nationals obtain green cards in the United States.

## What happens next The defendants have been charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, which is punishable by up to five years in prison, and conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States. The indictment included photos of alleged sham marriage ceremonies that prosecutors said the defendants submitted to U.S. immigration officials.

## Why it matters The scheme highlights the lengths to which people will go to cheat the immigration system. The case follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump aimed at restricting 'birth tourism', after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of broad citizenship rights for babies born in the United States. The State Department has started an effort to review the activities of visa holders with the aim of cracking down on women coming to the U.S. solely to attain citizenship for their child.

The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combating immigration fraud and protecting the integrity of the immigration system. The case also raises questions about the vulnerabilities of the immigration system and the need for continued vigilance to prevent similar schemes in the future.