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.
Speaker Johnson touts Trump’s agenda as crucial blueprint ahead of midterms: ‘On the ballot’
Trump Appoints Erika Kirk to Board Position Previously Held by Charlie
Leftist Still Doesn’t Learn His Lesson After His Pro-Diversity Speech Is Interrupted by ISIS Terrorist’s Bomb
WATCH: Dem witness accuses Trump of ‘population purge,’ Kennedy fires back: ‘You trigger my gag reflex’
Far-left lawmaker endorses candidate who boasted about voting with Republicans 80% of time
Newsom blames Trump for California’s higher gas prices, despite state policies
California bishop’s alleged secret double life explodes into felony case
FAA Temporarily Grounds All JetBlue Flights
‘A Woke Joke’ – Fans Furious at Hypocrite Bruce Springsteen as Tickets to His ‘No Kings’ Tour Are So Expensive, Only Royalty Can Afford Them
ICE Houston touts over 400 illegal alien child sex offenders arrested during Trump’s first year back in office
Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve meets GOP senator holding up his confirmation
Former DC police officer accused of sexually assaulting 10 women he met on dating apps, in person
Europe flails in response to Iran conflict as Strait of Hormuz closure threatens energy supply
Shots Fired at US Consulate in Canada in ‘Unacceptable Act of Violence’
Jackson-Kavanaugh tensions surface in candid exchange over Supreme Court ‘shadow docket’
“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.
Speaker Johnson touts Trump’s agenda as crucial blueprint ahead of midterms: ‘On the ballot’
Trump Appoints Erika Kirk to Board Position Previously Held by Charlie
Leftist Still Doesn’t Learn His Lesson After His Pro-Diversity Speech Is Interrupted by ISIS Terrorist’s Bomb
WATCH: Dem witness accuses Trump of ‘population purge,’ Kennedy fires back: ‘You trigger my gag reflex’
Far-left lawmaker endorses candidate who boasted about voting with Republicans 80% of time
Newsom blames Trump for California’s higher gas prices, despite state policies
California bishop’s alleged secret double life explodes into felony case
FAA Temporarily Grounds All JetBlue Flights
‘A Woke Joke’ – Fans Furious at Hypocrite Bruce Springsteen as Tickets to His ‘No Kings’ Tour Are So Expensive, Only Royalty Can Afford Them
ICE Houston touts over 400 illegal alien child sex offenders arrested during Trump’s first year back in office
Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve meets GOP senator holding up his confirmation
Former DC police officer accused of sexually assaulting 10 women he met on dating apps, in person
Europe flails in response to Iran conflict as Strait of Hormuz closure threatens energy supply
Shots Fired at US Consulate in Canada in ‘Unacceptable Act of Violence’
Jackson-Kavanaugh tensions surface in candid exchange over Supreme Court ‘shadow docket’
“Marriage fraud is a serious crime,” USCIS Houston District Director Tony Bryson said in a statement Monday. “This indictment reveals how successful our working relationships are with our law enforcement and intelligence partners when it comes to investigating marriage fraud. USCIS remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring national security, public safety and the integrity of the immigration system.”
Story cited here.
