Feds Bust Multimillion-Dollar Sham Marriage Ring in Boston
The Department of Justice alleges that Jessica Tavares, 31, of Attleboro, Mass., is seen in this photo entering into marriage with an illegal alien from Brazil in 2018. (United States Department of Justice)
By Ted Wayman
BOSTON — Federal prosecutors announced charges resulting from an investigation of a group that allegedly arranged "hundreds of sham marriages" with the goal of helping individuals obtain immigration benefits.
Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said six people were charged in connection with the case, including five who were arrested on Wednesday morning. She spoke at the Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston alongside John Soars, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, and Shawn Saucier, Northeast Regional Chief of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Foley said the alleged marriage fraud ring lasted more than a decade and generated more than $6 million in profits for the perpetrators.
According to the U.S. Attorney, the alleged mastermind of the scheme is Jennifer Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen. Other suspects were identified as:
• Erica Daniels, 29, of Fall River, Mass.
• Chreise Alejandro, 39, of Fall River
• Amara Pugh, 31, of Fall River
• Jessica Tavares, 31, of Attleboro
• Jaylin Hill, 26, of Fall River
Hill was already in state custody, serving a prison sentence for a firearms offense. The others were arrested and are expected to make their first appearances in federal court on Wednesday afternoon.
"Gonzalez allegedly charged between $38,000 and $40,000 per marriage and arranged 18 to 20 sham marriages per year for over ten years, on the low end," Foley said.
A recording provided by a cooperating witness captured Gonzalez bragging about investing the proceeds in businesses and property in the Dominican Republic, Foley said.
Daniels, Alejandro, Tavares and Hill, who are all U.S. citizens, were each allegedly paid to enter into one or more marriages to help immigrants obtain legal status. After staying married for a short time, the couples would get divorced and Foley said new marriages followed soon after.
"And this was all done to circumvent our immigration laws," Foley said.
Pugh, also a citizen, allegedly worked as the secretary for the business.
The prosecutors allege that multiple defendants also lied on Massachusetts SNAP benefit applications by falsely claiming to have never been married.
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