US arrests 11 over alleged sham marriage scheme

US officials said Wednesday that 11 people had been arrested for allegedly organising sham marriages for foreigners seeking US residency, mostly Chinese nationals.

Attorney General Todd Blanche told a press conference in Washington that Chinese nationals would pay up to $100,000 for a sham marriage to a US citizen, allowing them to apply for a green card. He said the US citizen spouse would receive up to $30,000.

Blanche called the case "one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in United States history" and described the alleged operation as a years-long, multi-million-dollar industry.

Jamie McDonald, US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said the defendants and unidentified co-conspirators orchestrated more than 1,000 sham marriages over the past decade. He said they recruited US citizens, arranged wedding ceremonies and took in tens of millions of dollars.

Officials said 10 of the 11 people arrested were naturalised US citizens originally from China and the other was a green card holder.

The defendants have been charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.