Federal agents arrested five Massachusetts women Wednesday in what prosecutors call a decade-long business that sold sham marriages to immigrants seeking green cards. A sixth defendant, already in state prison, was also charged.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced the charges in Boston. Fox News, Breitbart News, The Washington Times and The Daily Wire also reported the case.
What prosecutors say happened
Prosecutors say Jennifer Gonzalez, 43, of Fall River ran the operation. Immigrants in the country illegally paid her to set up a marriage to a U.S. citizen, then used the marriage to apply for legal status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- Price: Customers paid $38,000 to $40,000 per marriage, according to court papers.
- Volume: The ring averaged about 18 to 20 marriages a year for at least 10 years, prosecutors said.
- Money: U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley told reporters the scheme brought Gonzalez about $6 million, Fox News reported. Prosecutors say she spent the money on businesses and land in the Dominican Republic.
- Paper trail: Gonzalez allegedly coached customers to open joint bank accounts, buy life insurance and take selfies as couples. Customers often paid their assigned spouse $500 a month to keep the marriage going, court papers say.
Who is charged
Each defendant faces counts of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, harboring illegal aliens, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and marriage fraud. Besides Gonzalez, the defendants are Erica Daniels, 29, Chreise Alejandro, 39, Amara Pugh, 31, and Jaylin Hill, 26, all of Fall River, and Jessica Tavares, 31, of Attleboro.
Prosecutors say Daniels, Alejandro, Tavares and Hill were paid to marry customers. Pugh worked as the business’s secretary. Hill is serving a state prison sentence on a gun charge.
Recorded statements and food stamps
An informant recorded Gonzalez during the investigation, according to the Justice Department. In one recording she said, “this state is a sanctuary,” and in another, “Massachusetts is the best place for you to be.” She also said immigration rules had become stricter under President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors also say several defendants told the state they had never married when they applied for SNAP food benefits. Gonzalez allegedly spent more than $120,000 in SNAP benefits while running the ring. The charges come the same day federal officials announced a nationwide SNAP fraud crackdown.
What comes next
- Court: All six were set for first appearances in federal court in Boston on Wednesday afternoon.
- Penalties: The harboring counts carry up to 10 years in prison. The marriage fraud counts carry up to five years.
- Investigation: Homeland Security Investigations and USCIS led the case, which prosecutors say is ongoing.
The charges are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Sources: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts; Fox News; Breitbart News; The Washington Times; The Daily Wire.
