Nearly 100 Indicted, 50 In Custody After Ice Uncovers Large-Scale Marriage Fraud Scheme

Authorities indicted 96 people and arrested 50 for a marriage fraud operation allegedly taking place in Vietnam and Houston.

A months-long Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) probe uncovered a criminal operation that enabled numerous foreign nationals to fraudulently obtain legal immigration status in the U.S., according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement press release Monday.

Under the alleged terms of conspiracy, immigrant beneficiaries would pay around $50,000 to $70,000 to get married and score permanent resident status. The marriages were complete shams, according to the April indictment.

The spouses typically met only briefly before they obtained their marriage licenses and did not live together after becoming a “married” couple. The criminal operation behind the marriages would go so far as to produce fake wedding albums and falsified tax, utility and employment information — all in an effort to convince USCIS to approve the forms.

Biden ghostwriter tapes released after former president forfeits legal battle

Biden’s classified docs narrative crumbles amid release of ghostwriter tapes: ‘Be careful’

Trump Calls on John Thune to Hold Senators in D.C. Until They Terminate the Filibuster

Senate advances nomination of Jay Clayton to lead intel community

Georgia teenager pleads guilty to charging Capitol grounds with shotgun

Netflix Executive Takes Legal Action After Being Fired for Workplace Retreat Confession

Senate clears way for Trump’s top spy as key anti-terror program remains in limbo

In Just One Diocese, 7 Catholic Churches Are Canceling Sunday Mass Entirely as Minnesota’s Self-Destruction Continues

Op-Ed: Sparing Our Children from a Nuclear Iran

Luigi Mangione plea talks raise showdown over Brian Thompson murder trial

9/11 families push to ban Mamdani from 25th anniversary remembrance over ‘hostile’ record

Thune pours cold water Trump’s call to axe August recess for SAVE America Act

Illegal immigrant accused of murdering college student dials into hearing from hospital bed

Trans influencer breaks silence after Trump’s comparison to CNN anchor at WHCA Dinner

Police Searching for Second Suspect After Deadly Shooting at Seattle Festival

“These arrests mark the culmination of a comprehensive yearlong multi-agency investigation into one of the largest alleged marriage fraud conspiracies ever documented in the Houston area,” Special HSI Agent in Charge Mark Dawson said in a Monday statement. “By working together with our partners from various federal law enforcement agencies, we have sent a resounding message that we are united in our effort to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations that seek to circumvent U.S. law by fraudulent means.”

The indictment alleges Ashley Yen Nguyen, 53, was the leader of the criminal scheme and had operatives working throughout Texas and Vietnam.

People involved in the conspiracy allegedly recruited U.S. citizens to act as marriage petitioners, who would then receive a cut of the proceeds from the beneficiary spouses. Several people who were recruited as petitioners eventually became recruiters themselves.

Marriage fraud or conspiracy to commit marriage fraud carries a sentence of up to five years in prison. The other charges — including mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and tampering with a witness, informant or victim — all carry the possibility of 20 years in federal prison. A federal grand jury returned the indictment on April 30.