Six Charged in Alleged Massachusetts Marriage-Fraud Ring

The Justice Department has charged six Massachusetts residents in an alleged scheme to pair undocumented immigrants with spouses in fraudulent marriages so they could obtain lawful permanent residence. Prosecutors say the accused organizer collected roughly $38,000 to $40,000 from each participant.

Prosecutors allege Jennifer Gonzalez, 43, of Fall River, ran a years-long operation arranging marriages between undocumented immigrants and U.S. spouses so participants could seek permanent residency. Authorities say the scheme involved roughly 18 to 20 marriages annually over about 12 years, with Gonzalez reportedly charging each immigrant $38,000 to $40,000 and sharing proceeds with accomplices.

The other five Massachusetts residents named in the complaint are Erica Daniels, Chreise Alejandro, Amara Pugh, Jessica Tavares, and Jaylin Hill. Court documents list charges including harboring and marriage-fraud conspiracy; investigators say a Brazilian national prompted the case by telling Homeland Security agents he had paid to enter a sham marriage with Daniels and later cooperated.