Ashley Yen Nguyen pleaded guilty to tax fraud, mail fraud and immigration fraud for her role in arranging 40 sham marriages between US citizens and Vietnamese immigrants.
Nguyen charged foreigners up to $70,000 for the arranged marriages, provided a fake wedding album and coached the participants so they could pass immigration interviews and obtain legal permanent resident status. US citizens participating in the marriages were paid for their involvement.
Nguyen fabricated paperwork for immigration that included tax, utility and employment information, ascertaining that the couples lived together when in reality they never did.
Funds from the scheme were used to purchase multiple homes, some of which were used to stage fake living arrangements between the marriage participants.
Nguyen faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
