A massive visa fraud scheme involving over 1,000 sham marriages has been uncovered, with 11 people indicted for their alleged role in the scam. The scheme, which operated nationwide and internationally, involved pairing foreign nationals with U.S. citizens in sham marriages to obtain lawful permanent resident status through fraudulent Green Card applications.

Details of the Scheme

According to federal authorities, the scheme involved facilitators, recruiters, and assistants who prepared fraudulent immigration paperwork. Marriage officiants, attorneys, tax preparers, insurance providers, and other service providers were also involved. Foreign nationals paid roughly $100,000 for each sham marriage, while U.S. participants received approximately $30,000 to marry the foreign national.

The scam involved staging additional photographs, opening joint financial and utility accounts, filing joint tax returns, and obtaining insurance policies to make the marriage appear genuine. After submitting Green Card applications with materially false statements and paperwork, the couples would interview with USCIS, where they would provide false answers to immigration officers.

Investigation and Charges

The USCIS, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, and Westchester County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the case. The 11 defendants, including eight Chinese nationals, were arrested and arraigned on charges of marriage fraud, immigration fraud, and conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States.

Convictions for marriage fraud and immigration fraud carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison, while conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.