11 charged in Florida-based military marriage fraud scheme

Eleven individuals have been charged in Florida over an alleged marriage fraud scheme that recruited U.S. army personnel to marry Chinese language nationals.

The scheme was orchestrated by a Chinese language transnational gang that recruited army members to take part in fraudulent marriages in order that Chinese language residents might receive immigration advantages and passes to U.S. army installations, in line with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“This investigation underscores the important position HSI (Homeland Safety Investigations) performs in defending our nation from transnational prison organizations that search to take advantage of our customs and immigration legal guidelines and threaten our nationwide safety,” mentioned Michael Cochran, Appearing Particular Agent in Cost of HSI Tampa.

“Because of the dedication and experience of our brokers and companions, we efficiently investigated, disrupted and dismantled a complicated prison community working throughout borders.”

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

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

To bolster claims that the marriages have been actual, the suspects took pictures of the {couples} to create proof that might be offered to immigration authorities to recommend they have been in a loving, dedicated relationship.

In actuality, the suspects had agreed to a cost plan beneath which the U.S. citizen’s spouse would obtain an upfront money cost for marrying the Chinese language citizen, a second cost when authorized immigration standing was obtained, and a ultimate cost after a divorce.

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An aerial view of the usGerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower collectively within the Japanese Mediterranean, November 3, 2023. (US Navy Janae Chambers/Handout/Anadolu through Getty Photos)

Between March 2024 and February 2025, 5 individuals have been charged with marriage fraud conspiracy:

• Anny Chen, 54, from New York. She was additionally charged with marriage fraud and bribery conspiracy.
• Kiah Holly, 29, from Maryland.
• Kin Man Cheok, 32, from China, who was additionally charged with bribery conspiracy between November 2024 and February 14, 2025.
• Hailing Feng, 27, of New York, who was additionally charged with bribery conspiracy.
• Xionghu Fang, 41, from China.

Raymond Zumba, Brinio Urena, Morgan Chambers and Jacinth Bailey, former U.S. Navy troopers, have all pleaded responsible to costs associated to the identical scheme. Their sentence is pending.

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

Zumba allegedly requested if the husband can be keen to difficulty actual however unauthorized ID playing cards for an under-the-table cost. The supply reported the plan to authorities and continued to speak with Zumba.

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

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

He took them to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, the place the supply’s spouse allow them to into the personnel workplace after enterprise hours and began the method for Chen and Cheok to obtain identification playing cards. The following day, Zumba met with the supply, who reportedly gave him two playing cards in trade for $3,500.

Zumba was instantly arrested and the playing cards have been recovered, authorities mentioned.