Six people face federal charges in Massachusetts over an alleged marriage fraud operation that prosecutors say generated millions of dollars across more than a decade.
Jennifer Gonzalez, 43, of Fall River, is accused of leading the scheme. She allegedly arranged sham marriages between illegal immigrants and United States citizens so the former could obtain immigration status. Court documents allege she typically charged between 38,000 and 40,000 dollars for each arrangement and completed roughly 18 to 20 such marriages a year. Over at least ten years she is said to have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars annually and to have used the proceeds to purchase businesses and property in the Dominican Republic.
The other defendants are Erica Daniels, 29, Chreise Alejandro, 39, Amara Pugh, 31, and Jaylin Hill, 26, all of Fall River, and Jessica Tavares, 31, of Attleboro. All six are charged with conspiracy to harbour illegal immigrants, harbouring illegal immigrants, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, and marriage fraud. Gonzalez, Daniels, Alejandro, Pugh and Tavares have been arrested. Hill is already serving a state prison sentence for a firearms offence. Initial court appearances have been scheduled.
According to the charging documents, Gonzalez paid Daniels, Alejandro, Tavares and Hill, all United States citizens, to enter into one or more marriages with illegal immigrant customers. Pugh is alleged to have acted as the operation’s secretary. Customers were instructed to create the appearance of genuine marriages by opening joint bank accounts, taking out life insurance policies and taking photographs together. Gonzalez allegedly required signed contracts, accepted cash down payments and arranged for ongoing monthly payments of around 500 dollars to the citizen spouse or someone close to them.
Investigators captured Gonzalez on video and audio directing the preparation of a disguised loan contract and accepting a 3,000 dollar cash payment. She is alleged to have told a customer that the document deliberately omitted any reference to the spouse because mentioning it would be incriminating. Recordings also capture her describing Massachusetts as a sanctuary jurisdiction that offered advantages to immigrants, including access to health insurance and other support, and noting that immigration proceedings had become stricter under the current administration.
Several defendants are accused of lying on Massachusetts food assistance applications by claiming they had never been married, even while they filed federal immigration petitions on behalf of their alleged sham spouses. Gonzalez is alleged to have received more than 120,000 dollars in such benefits while running the operation and acquiring property abroad.
The charges of harbouring illegal immigrants and conspiracy carry a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, three years of supervised release and a 250,000 dollar fine. Marriage fraud and the related conspiracy count each carry up to five years in prison, the same period of supervised release and the same maximum fine. Any sentence will be determined by a federal judge.
United States Attorney Leah B Foley announced the charges together with officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Assistance came from inspectors general at the Departments of Labor, Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development, and from the Postal Inspection Service. The investigation remains ongoing.
The details in the charging documents are allegations only. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
By John James
- Six charged over alleged multi million dollar sham marriage scheme in Massachusetts
- Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odia Jailed for Fourteen Years Each over N67 Million Fraud in Lagos
- Tinubu Says He Prayed for Nigeria’s Peace After Completing Umrah in Saudi Arabia
- Lagos Court Convicts Applewood Estate Suspect over Gift Card Fraud
- Tinubu’s Praise of Nigerian Diversity Meets Sharp Criticism Over Colonial Origins and Weak Citizenship
