11 charged in US marriage fraud scheme targeting military members to wed Chinese nationals

US authorities have charged 11 people in an alleged marriage fraud ring that recruited American service members to enter sham marriages with Chinese nationals for immigration benefits, the Department of Justice said.

An indictment unsealed on Wednesday in Florida accuses the suspects of conspiring to recruit US citizens, preferably military members, to marry Chinese nationals in exchange for cash payments.

Prosecutors allege 54-year-old New York resident Anny Chen, a naturalized US citizen from China, recruited US Navy service member Raymond Zumba to marry Chinese national Sha Xie, 38. The pair wed in Brooklyn in April 2024, with photos of the ceremony allegedly submitted to immigration authorities to prove the marriage was legitimate.

Chen allegedly paid Zumba $10,000 in cash at the wedding. Zumba was then persuaded to recruit other Navy personnel into similar sham marriages, prosecutors said.

According to court documents, recruiters promised upfront cash payments, a second payment after the spouse obtained legal immigration status, and a final payment after divorce. Zumba allegedly told a potential recruit couples could receive up to $35,000, with $10,000 paid upfront.

The scheme allegedly extended to obtaining military identification cards for the Chinese spouses. Prosecutors said Zumba discussed obtaining cards through a Navy member whose wife worked at the personnel office at Naval Air Station Jacksonville that issued them. Zumba allegedly offered up to $3,500 per card, claiming Chen wrote: "I can go to any military base at any time with this card" and obtain free medical care and on-base shopping.

The Navy member contacted law enforcement, who arranged a controlled transaction. Agents arrested the defendants after they handed over money for the cards.

US citizens Anny Chen, Yafeng Deng, Hailing Feng, Kiah Holly and Jaden Bullion were charged with marriage fraud conspiracy. Chinese nationals Sha Xie, Linlin Wang, Jiawei Chen, Xionghu Fang, Tao Fan and Kin Man Cheok face the same charge. Chen and Wang face additional marriage fraud charges; Feng and Cheok face bribery charges.

Four former Navy members, including Zumba, have pleaded guilty to related charges. Zumba faces up to 15 years in federal prison.