LOS ANGELES – Authorities in California have charged three people, including a man who posed as a lawyer, in an elaborate sham marriage ring that they say sought green cards for Chinese citizens.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement says Jason Shiao and his 43-year-old daughter, Lynn Leung, were arrested Wednesday for allegedly arranging dozens of fraudulent marriages. They are accused of charging Chinese citizens as much as $50,000 to get legal residency.
Authorities say they're still searching for Shannon Mendoza, who is accused of recruiting American spouses for the schemes.
Officials say Shiao and Leung's Pasadena-based business coached couples and snapped photos of them together to make their marriages seem legitimate to immigration officers.
A working phone could not be immediately located for the business, which authorities say advertised in Chinese-language newspapers.
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