Woman accused of masterminding $6m marriage fraud scheme

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 22:20 · Archive

Jennifer Gonzalez, 43, of Massachusetts, has been accused of arranging sham marriages for up to $40,000 each to help migrants obtain green cards.

Jennifer Gonzalez, 43, of Fall River, Massachusetts, has been charged with orchestrating a sham marriage scheme that authorities say generated $6 million over roughly a decade. She allegedly worked with five other American women to arrange fraudulent marriages for migrants seeking green cards and U.S. citizenship. Gonzalez charged between $38,000 and $40,000 per marriage, with her operation averaging 18 to 20 fraudulent marriages annually, according to court filings.

The accused conspirators allegedly instructed couples to take selfies together, establish joint bank accounts and obtain life insurance policies to make their marriages appear legitimate. Gonzalez's co-defendants include Amara Pugh, 31, Erica Daniels, 29, Cherice Alejandro, 39, Jessica Tavares, 31, and Jalyn Hill, 26. All six have been charged with marriage fraud, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, harboring illegal aliens and conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens.

According to U.S. Attorney Leah Foley, Gonzalez allegedly revealed details of the scheme to a witness cooperating with federal law enforcement, whom she believed was an undocumented immigrant. She reportedly bragged about investing her proceeds in businesses and property in the Dominican Republic and claimed she stopped arranging marriages at the end of 2024 because President Trump was returning to office, shutting down the operation entirely in 2025 because immigration enforcement had become 'a little harsh.'

How it is being reported

• American woman made millions by recruiting army of fake brides to wed migrants in huge green card scam, federal prosecutors allegeThe Massachusetts woman would allegedly charge between $38,000 and $40,000 per migrant to arrange the illegal marriages.Daily Mail · 21 Oct, 22:09
• American woman masterminds $6 million marriage fraud scheme, Department of Justice saysThe Department of Justice accuses Jennifer Gonzalez of earning $6 million by arranging sham marriages for green cards over a decade in Massachusetts.Fox News · 21 Oct, 19:07

In this story: Jennifer Gonzalez · Massachusetts · Department of Justice · Leah Foley · Dominican Republic · Fall River

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