A Massachusetts woman accused of running a sprawling “green card” marriage fraud operation charged immigrants as much as $40,000 apiece to arrange sham marriages with U.S. citizens, federal prosecutors say.
Jennifer Gonzalez, 43, of Fall River, Massachusetts, told a cooperating witness that she had been arranging fraudulent marriages for more than 10 years and was “very good at this,” according to the federal criminal complaint. Investigators allege the operation averaged about 18 to 20 sham marriages per year and that Gonzalez made hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Gonzalez, Erica Daniels, Cherice Alejandro, Amara Pugh, Jessica Tavares and Jaylin Hill were charged with offenses including marriage fraud, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, harboring people in the country illegally and conspiracy to harbor them.
It was not immediately clear if any of the defendants have legal representation.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts by email Wednesday for more information on the defendants' attorneys and further comment.
The case comes as President Donald Trump's administration tightens immigration enforcement, a shift Gonzalez acknowledged during recorded conversations, according to the criminal complaint.
“I’ve been doing this for more than 10 years,” Gonzalez allegedly told a cooperating witness. She described it as a “very successful career” before warning that “we’re in a new government, things are a little bit more difficult.”
Federal investigators say Gonzalez charged from $38,000 to $40,000 to arrange each fraudulent marriage. The complaint also says she told the cooperating witness that her usual price was $40,000 but offered a reduced price of $38,000, with additional payments required for the proposed spouse.
Per the complaint, when the witness joked about what would happen if the assigned spouse fell in love, Gonzalez responded, “We’re not here for love.”
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How the $40,000 Marriage Scheme Worked: Feds
Federal prosecutors say Gonzalez matched clients with U.S. citizens and instructed them on creating the appearance of legitimate marriages.
According to the complaint, Gonzalez discussed establishing joint bank accounts, life insurance, an apartment lease and other documentation before an immigration application was submitted.
“If you don’t get married, we cannot do anything,” she told the cooperating witness, according to prosecutors.
Authorities say that Daniels, Alejandro, Tavares and Hill were paid to participate in one or more marriages, while Pugh worked as the “secretary.”
In one case, per the complaint, a Brazilian national paid Gonzalez to arrange a marriage with Daniels. The government says Daniels agreed to receive $500 monthly while the marriage continued, with messages cited by investigators discussing those payments.
Defendant Touted Massachusetts as a ‘Sanctuary’: Prosecutors
Despite acknowledging stricter immigration enforcement under the new administration, prosecutors say Gonzalez lauded Massachusetts in recorded conversations.
“I believe that you can, OK, because this state is a sanctuary,” she said, according to excerpts released by the Justice Department. Authorities also said she added, “Massachusetts is the best place for you to be. That is a fact.”
Feds Say Operation Lasted More Than a Decade
Investigators say the operation had been running for around 12 years. Based on Gonzalez’s statements along with financial evidence, authorities say, she took in hundreds of thousands of dollars per year for at least a decade.
Gonzalez is also accused of telling a cooperating witness that the group had obtained hundreds of green cards for people in Massachusetts.
Federal prosecutors further accuse Gonzalez of saying she purchased property and other assets in the Dominican Republic.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts also says that Gonzalez spent more than $120,000 in SNAP benefits while running the operation.
What Happens Next
Gonzalez, Daniels, Alejandro, Pugh and Tavares were arrested Wednesday, while Hill was already serving a Massachusetts state prison sentence for a firearms offense, according to federal prosecutors.
Harboring and conspiracy to harbor each carry a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, while marriage fraud and conspiracy to commit marriage fraud each carry maximum sentences of five years.
Federal authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins