Chinese criminal gang allegedly recruited Navy members for sham marriages and base access

Eleven people were charged in Florida in an alleged marriage fraud scheme that involved the recruitment of U.S. military service members to marry Chinese citizens. 

The scheme was orchestrated by a Chinese transnational gang that recruited military members to participate in fraudulent marriages so that Chinese citizens could obtain immigration benefits and access cards for U.S. military installations, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"This investigation underscores the critical role that HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) plays in protecting our nation from transnational criminal organizations that seek to exploit our customs and immigration laws and threaten our national security," said HSI Tampa acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Cochran. 

"Through the dedication and expertise of our agents and partners, we have successfully investigated, disrupted and dismantled a sophisticated criminal network operating across borders."

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