Phony bank statements, marriage fraud at center of alleged immigration scam, court docs say
FOX NEWS - Published September 11, 2015
Phony bank statements, staged photos, fake honeymoons and fraudulent wedding ceremonies lie at the heart of an alleged scam to help Chinese nationals obtain U.S. citizenship, according to court records released Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles.
"Marriage fraud presents a serious threat to the integrity of our immigration system by undermining programs designed to allow foreign nationals to come to the United States in a fair and orderly fashion," said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker.
Prosecutors indicted 65-year-old Jason Shiao, also known as "Jason Zheng" and his daughter Lynn Leung, 43, on charges of immigration fraud. They face five years in prison if convicted.
Posing as immigration lawyers, the father-daughter team placed ads in Chinese language newspapers. For a $50,000 fee, the Pasadena pair promised to obtain a visa and lawful status for Chinese nationals through marriages with U.S. citizens, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in the case by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.