11 charged in Florida-based navy marriage fraud scheme

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Eleven folks have been charged in Florida in reference to a wedding fraud scheme that concerned the recruitment of U.S. navy service members to marry Chinese citizens .

The scheme was orchestrated by a Chinese language transnational gang that recruited navy members to take part in fraudulent marriages in order that Chinese language residents might get hold of immigration advantages and entry playing cards for U.S. navy installations, mentioned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"This investigation underscores the important function that HSI (Homeland Safety Investigations) performs in defending our nation from transnational felony organizations that search to take advantage of our customs and immigration legal guidelines and threaten our nationwide safety," mentioned HSI Tampa performing Particular Agent in Cost Michael Cochran. "By the dedication and experience of our brokers and companions, we have now efficiently investigated, disrupted and dismantled a classy felony community working throughout borders."

CHINESE NATIONAL CHARGED WITH PHOTOGRAPHING US STEALTH BOMBER BASE AFTER ILLEGAL ENTRY

The nationwide flags of america and China flutter on the Fairmont Peace Resort on April 25, 2024 in Shanghai, China. Federal prosecutors allege a Chinese language gang recruited U.S. navy service members to marry Chinese language nationals in fraudulent marriages. (Wang Gang/VCG through Getty Photos)

The sham marriages befell across the nation, together with in Jacksonville, Florida, in addition to in New York, Connecticut and Nevada.

To bolster claims that the marriages have been real, the suspects took images of the {couples} to create proof that could possibly be offered to immigration authorities to counsel they have been in loving, committed relationships .

In actuality, the suspects had agreed to a fee plan whereby the U.S. citizen partner would obtain a money fee up entrance for marrying the Chinese language nationwide, a second fee when authorized immigration standing was obtained, and a last fee after the divorce.

FORMER US NAVY SAILOR LEARNS SENTENCE FOR SPYING FOR CHINA

An aerial view of plane carriers of america Navy USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower collectively in jap Mediterranean on November 03, 2023. (Photograph by U.S.Navy Janae Chambers/Handout/Anadolu through Getty Photos)

5 folks have been charged with marriage fraud conspiracy between March 2024 and February 2025:

Anny Chen, 54, of New York. She can be charged with marriage fraud and bribery conspiracy. Kiah Holly, 29, of Maryland. Kin Man Cheok, 32, of China, who can be charged with bribery conspiracy between November 2024 and Feb. 14, 2025. Hailing Feng, 27, of New York, who can be charged with bribery conspiracy. Xionghu Fang, 41, of China. Raymond Zumba, Brinio Urena, Morgan Chambers and Jacinth Bailey, former U.S. Navy service members, have all pleaded responsible to costs associated to the identical scheme. Their sentences are pending.

Federal prosecutors additionally allege that Anny Chen, Hailing Feng and Kin Man Cheok conspired to bribe a public official. Zumba, who served within the Navy Reserve, allegedly supplied to bribe an unidentified supply and the supply’s partner, who labored at Naval Air Station Jacksonville within the personnel workplace that points Division of Battle identification playing cards.

Zumba allegedly requested whether or not the partner could be prepared to challenge actual, however unauthorized, ID playing cards for an under-the-table fee. The supply reported the plan to authorities and continued to speak with Zumba.

A Muslim man from Malaysia secretly married an 11-year-old woman. (iStock)

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After driving from New York, Zumba arrived in Jacksonville on Feb. 13, 2025, with Anny Chen, Feng and Cheok.

He introduced them to the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, the place the supply’s partner allow them to into the personnel workplace after enterprise hours and initiated the method for Chen and Cheok to obtain ID playing cards. The next day, Zumba met with the supply, who gave him two playing cards in change for $3,500.