100 Americans are arrested in Texas for selling fake marriages for $ 70 000

13 May in Texas, the federal authorities arrested a group consisting of almost 100 Americans who took 70 000 dollars from foreigners, instead offering a fake marriage and even a fake wedding album. A newly-born husband or wife received the right to legal immigration status in the United States.

Фото: Depositphotos

The group's alleged leader, Ashley Yen Nguyen, 53, operated her "business" out of the Houston area but had associates throughout the state and also in Vietnam, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas. Currently, at least 50 people out of almost a hundred named in the indictment are in custody, writes Fox News.

“The couple are alleged to have entered into a marriage pursuant to a financial arrangement with the primary purpose of circumventing U.S. immigration laws,” the Justice Department said in a statement.

The indictment, which contains 206 points and has not yet been made public, since not all the defendants are in custody, says that the scheme began to operate around August 2013.

On the subject: Sham marriage in the USA: how much it costs and what threatens

Investigators say the group charged foreigners from 50 000 to 70 000 for a fake marriage by signing a cash transfer agreement “for every immigration benefit received,” including “entering the United States” and “full legal permanent resident status”.

After these transactions, the group allegedly provided the immigration authorities with fake documents, including tax and labor documents, to help their clients obtain permission to enter and reside in the United States.

“The criminal organization also prepared and provided the petitioner and beneficiary spouse with fraudulent wedding albums containing photographs to make them appear as if they were having a wedding ceremony at the courthouse,” the indictment states.

On the subject: In Florida, an immigrant organized a business on bogus marriages

The document also states that “spouses do not live together and do not intend to live together, contrary to documents and statements submitted to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services,” and that “spouses meet only for a short time just before getting a marriage license , or not found at all. "

In addition to charges of marriage fraud, indictment individuals are charged with mail fraud and falsification involving a witness. If found guilty, each defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 20 years.

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