Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Feds bust NYC fraud scheme that engineered hundreds of sham marriages between Americans, Chinese nationals
NY Post ^ | 8/12/26 | Josh Christenson

Posted on 08/12/2026 9:00:36 PM PDT by Libloather

WASHINGTON — The feds nabbed 11 suspects accused of operating a decade-long, multimillion-dollar marriage fraud scheme that resulted in around 1,000 sham weddings between primarily Chinese nationals and US citizens for the purpose of getting the Asians green cards.

The “cottage industry” uncovered Wednesday charged foreign nationals up to $100,000 for each fake union, including submitting fraudulent applications to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of those seeking lawful permanent residency.

The sham wedding ring used advertisements on social media platforms, held phony marraige ceremonies and even had both parties to the fake unions sign bizarre pre-nuptial agreements, prosecutors in the Southern District of New York alleged.

One of those agreements expressly stated that “except in the name of husband and wife, both parties live independently and must not interfere with each other,” according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday.

Each defendant faces charges of conspiring to commit marriage fraud and immigration document fraud as well as conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the US.

All 11 of the alleged scheme participants were expected to make their initial appearance in White Plains federal court later Wednesday.

“This was one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in United States history,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche at a DC press conference.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Society; Travel
KEYWORDS: americans; amycheng; angeladuenas; anthonycheng; china; christinelu; erikajohnson; florida; fraud; fraudtruth; gangzheng; illegalimmigration; illegaltruth; immigranttruth; immigration; jingyanye; marriage; michelleduenas; nationals; newyork; prc; prenups; prenuptialagreements; shammarriages; shamweddings; sigridcetino; socialmedia; vanuatu; weddings; xiaomeichan; xiaoyanchen

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.

Hold on just a second. Isn't the socialist bartender shopping for a donor? Nice retirement home near Wuhan. Close to schools. Match made in heaven.
1 posted on 08/12/2026 9:00:36 PM PDT by Libloather
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Though most of the gang’s activity took place in New York City, the ring also operated in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, China and the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. The defendants, all but one of whom are naturalized from China, included Amy Cheng, 72; Xiao Mei Chan, 64; Christine Lu, 52; Jing Yan Ye, 43; Xiao Yan Chen, 48; Gang Zheng, 61; Anthony Cheng, 47; Michelle Duenas, 35; Angela Duenas, 26; Sigrid Cetino, 32; and Erika Johnson, 43.

They should do it all in China.

2 posted on 08/12/2026 9:17:04 PM PDT by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

Everyone involved should get the electric chair.


3 posted on 08/12/2026 9:57:59 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

I remember how the Chinese, funded by their government, were buying up every co-op apartment in Queens they could get their hands on. Imaging a stranger knocking on your door, asking “Any apartment for sale? Yours?” And if they bought an apartment, they proceeded to bring Chinese trash ways to it, doing low class things no American would do. Having their little kids pee or poop against apartment buildings instead of seeking a restroom. Drying fish they got at the market on the co-op’s bushes out in the yard. Smoking on the front lawns in their pajamas. Etc. And they also bought single family homes in the adjoining neighborhoods. I’m SO glad I moved out of NYC and live on my quiet leafy Baltimore suburban street.


4 posted on 08/12/2026 11:26:16 PM PDT by EinNYC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

We absolutely need to bring back the chair.


5 posted on 08/12/2026 11:52:32 PM PDT by gopno1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

“Everyone involved should get the electric chair”
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Amen, and Thank You.
Let’s dust off, and refurbish ‘Old Sparky’ and put him to work indeed. John 14:6


6 posted on 08/13/2026 12:41:49 AM PDT by InkStone (ONLY returning to Faith in God, thru Jesus Yeshua, will save America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

What attempts are being made to find and prosecute and deport those who got ‘married?’ Did the NYPost bother to ask?


7 posted on 08/13/2026 3:56:44 AM PDT by posterchild
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Libloather
The defendants, all but one of whom are naturalized from China, included Amy Cheng, 72; Xiao Mei Chan, 64; Christine Lu, 52; Jing Yan Ye, 43; Xiao Yan Chen, 48; Gang Zheng, 61; Anthony Cheng, 47; Michelle Duenas, 35; Angela Duenas, 26; Sigrid Cetino, 32; and Erika Johnson, 43.

>Will the traitors running MSNOW run over with camera crews to see if any of the above had "children who cried" when 'Mommy' or 'Daddy' were arrested for breaking our laws? COUNT ON IT. MSNOW sides with criminals, illegals. and traitors as 'elites' always have... the love of cheap labor and those who give the finger to traditional citizens..

8 posted on 08/13/2026 4:18:45 AM PDT by GOPJ (Iran's "Tokyo Rose" is the staff of "Morning Joe - "elites" siding with Iran, Illegals, and China..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

The world’s free loaders are making small fortunes off of selling U.S. Citizenships. Americans are dumbasses. We should sell them ourselves and keep the money for us.


9 posted on 08/13/2026 5:56:36 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Gen Zers are the same mental midgets who ate Tide pods as toddlers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson