Massachusetts Ring Busted for Hundreds of Sham Marriages

Six people were arrested in Massachusetts for running a massive marriage fraud ring targeting immigration laws.

Federal prosecutors arrested six individuals in Massachusetts for operating a decade-long marriage fraud ring that arranged hundreds of sham unions for non-citizens seeking legal status. The organization collected up to $40,000 per couple and funneled the profits into foreign investments. The defendants face multiple felony charges related to immigration violations and harboring undocumented individuals.

• The leaderJennifer Gonzalez, age 43, allegedly orchestrated the operation over a span of more than 10 years.
• The feesImmigrants paid between $38,000 and $40,000 for a fraudulent marriage to a United States citizen.
• The investmentsProfits from the scheme were laundered and invested into properties and businesses located in the Dominican Republic.
• The chargesThe six suspects face federal counts of conspiracy to harbor immigrants and related harboring offenses.

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