I Now Pronounce You Under Arrest: 6 Charged In Fraudulent Sham Marriage Scheme

BOSTON, MA — Six Massachusetts residents were charged in connection with a scheme involving sham marriages used to fraudulently obtain immigration status, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced.

Jennifer Gonzalez, 43, Erica Daniels, 29, Chreise Alejandro, 39, Amara Pugh, 31, and Jaylin Hill, 26, all of Fall River, and Jessica Tavares, 31, of Attleboro, have been charged with conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, harboring illegal aliens, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, and marriage fraud. Gonzalez, Daniels, Alejandro, Pugh, and Tavares were arrested, while Hill is in state custody serving a sentence for a firearms offense. All six were scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston.

According to prosecutors, Gonzalez operated a business that arranged marriages between customers seeking legal immigration status and U.S. citizens. Gonzalez reportedly paid Daniels, Alejandro, Tavares, and Hill to enter into the marriages so customers could submit fraudulent documents to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Pugh reportedly worked as the business’s secretary.

The operation reportedly arranged approximately 18 to 20 sham marriages annually, with customers typically paying between $38,000 and $40,000. Gonzalez ran the business for at least 10 years, earning hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and millions overall. During the investigation, Gonzalez reportedly said she used the money to purchase businesses and real estate in the Dominican Republic.

Gonzalez instructed customers to open joint bank accounts, establish life insurance policies, and take photographs together to make their marriages appear legitimate. The defendants also reportedly took photographs of weddings and social outings with their assigned spouses to support the immigration applications. According to court documents, Gonzalez told customers that preparing sufficient documentation would take three to four months.

Customers were required to sign contracts agreeing to pay for Gonzalez’s services and reportedly made ongoing $500 monthly payments to their assigned spouse or someone close to the spouse. During the investigation, Gonzalez was recorded directing the printing and signing of a disguised loan contract and accepting a $3,000 cash down payment for arranging a marriage, according to prosecutors.

Gonzalez reportedly told the customer that the contract intentionally avoided mentioning the spouse because doing so would be “incriminating.” According to court documents, she said the paperwork was designed to conceal the fraudulent purpose of the arrangement.

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