6 people have been arrested for allegedly running a marriage fraud ring, federal authorities say

Federal prosecutors announced they have broken up a fraudulent marriage ring in Massachusetts that conducted dozens of bogus ceremonies with immigrants over the past decade and netted participant millions of dollars Wedding rings were exchanged, and photos of a smiling bride and well-dressed groom made it look like these were legitimate marriages. But federal authorities argued Wednesday that the ceremonies were part of an elaborate, decade-long marriage fraud ring that netted a half-dozen people in Massachusetts millions of dollars.

Prosecutors charged six people, including the alleged ringleader Jennifer Gonzalez, with conducting as many as 20 marriages to help immigrants obtain legal status. The other five were allegedly paid by Gonzalez to take part in the marriages — several of them taking part in multiple nuptials. Each marriage cost an immigrant from $38,000 to $40,000.

All face charges including harboring illegal aliens, conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and marriage fraud. “What an affront the alleged conduct revealed here today must be to those who play by the rules,” U.S. Attorney Leah Foley told reporters.

“To see a for-profit business whose sole purpose is helping people cheat and skip the line by simply paying for it must be so offensive and disheartening to those who follow our country’s laws.” Five of the six were arrested Wednesday morning and are expected to appear in federal court later in the day. A sixth defendant is currently in state prison serving a sentence for a firearms crime. Gonzalez got rich off selling the American Dream all the while investing her money in another country,” Foley said, detailing how Gonzalez allegedly used profits from the marriage ring to buy businesses and real estate in the Dominican Republic.

An attorney for Gonzalez, 43, of Fall River, Massachusetts, could not be reached for comment. The arrests are the latest effort to crack down on marriage fraud and come as the Trump administration has increased restrictions on both legal and illegal immigration and reduced the avenues available for people to enter the country or become a citizen. In August, 11 people were charged with participating in a multimillion-dollar scheme to help hundreds of Chinese nationals fraudulently obtain green cards through sham marriages to U.S.

In that scheme, American citizens were paid as much as $30,000 to enter into bogus marriages with immigrants seeking lawful permanent resident status. The decade-long scheme netted tens of millions of dollars. She is an American citizen.An attorney for Gonzalez, 43, of Fall River, Massachusetts, could not be reached for comment.The arrests are the latest effort to crack down on marriage fraud and come as the Trump administration has increased restrictions on both legal and illegal immigration and reduced the avenues available for people to enter the country or become a citizen.In August, 11 people were charged with participating in a multimillion-dollar scheme to help hundreds of Chinese nationals fraudulently obtain green cards through sham marriages to U.S.