Mass. fraud scheme made $6M off "sham" marriages, feds say
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Federal authorities accused six Massachusetts residents of orchestrating a decade-long marriage fraud ring, marrying themselves off to immigrants repeatedly to help them obtain green card status.
The big picture: The charges put a spotlight on Massachusetts' status as a welcoming state for immigrants regardless of legal status, weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
- The lead defendant, Jennifer Gonzalez of Fall River, allegedly exploited the state's reputation, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said.
- Gonzalez allegedly told a witness, whom she believed to be an undocumented immigrant, "Massachusetts is the best place for you to be."
Driving the news: Federal agents arrested five of the six suspects, all U.S. citizens, on Wednesday: Erica Daniels, Cherice Alejandro, Amara Pugh, Jessica Tavares and Gonzalez, per court documents.
- A sixth suspect, Jaylen Hill, had already been arrested on unrelated charges, Foley said.
- The group of six allegedly got married and split up with their spouses after helping them get immigration benefits, repeating the cycle over the course of the decade.
1 stunning stat: The ring pocketed at least $6 million over the past decade, conducting 18-20 marriages a year until 2024, Foley said.
- Gonzalez used the money to buy property in her native Dominican Republic, Foley said.
Gonzalez and three others — Alejandro, Daniels and Tavares — also allegedly applied for SNAP benefits without disclosing their spouses or the profits from the "sham" marriage business, Foley said.
- Gonzalez received SNAP between 2019 and 2026, per court documents.
How it worked: One source, a Brazilian national referred to as "SOI-1" in court documents, told investigators he entered a contract with Gonzalez.
- He told investigators that he had overstayed a temporary visa after arriving in 2019 and heard from an Uber driver that Gonzalez could help him obtain legal status.
- Authorities say he texted Gonzalez, who arranged a video call with him and showed him pictures of four eligible bachelorettes (one was Daniels, authorities say). She allegedly required $5,000 up front.
The fine print: He and Gonzalez allegedly entered a contract in which he agreed to pay $26,000 for a "sham" marriage to Daniels, as part of a scheme to get him immigration benefits, per court documents.
- Authorities said the agreement included a $500 monthly payment to Daniels after they wed on Aug. 22, 2024.
What they're saying: Foley said that Gonzalez "got rich off selling the American dream, all the while investing her money in another country."
- "My hope is that today the charged defendants and others like them realize that the American dream is not for sale. It is earned," she added.
- Foley said the investigation is ongoing.