Eleven people have been indicted in Jacksonville, Florida, for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy involving marriage fraud and bribery. The indictment was announced by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe and includes three counts against the defendants.
The individuals charged are Anny Chen, Sha Xie, Linlin Wang, Jiawei Chen, Yafeng Deng, Hailing Feng, Kiah Holly, Xionghu Fang, Tao Fan, Jaden Bullion, and Kin Man Cheok. According to the indictment, these individuals are accused of organizing sham marriages between U.S. citizens—preferably military personnel—and Chinese nationals. The purpose of these marriages was to evade immigration laws and secure lawful permanent resident status for the Chinese nationals.
The scheme reportedly operated in several states including Florida (specifically Jacksonville), New York, Connecticut, and Nevada. To support their applications with immigration authorities, the conspirators allegedly staged photographs to make it appear as though the couples were in genuine relationships. In reality, there was a payment plan: U.S. citizen spouses would receive an initial cash payment for marrying a Chinese national, another payment once legal status was obtained for the spouse, and a final payment after divorce.
Anny Chen and Linlin Wang face additional charges related to a sham marriage that took place in Jacksonville in August 2024.
In connection with this case, former Navy servicemembers Raymond Zumba, Brinio Urena, Morgan Chambers, and Jacinth Bailey have already pleaded guilty to related charges. Sentencing hearings for these individuals are pending.
The indictment also accuses Anny Chen, Hailing Feng, and Kin Man Cheok of conspiring to bribe a public official. In January 2025, law enforcement received information from a confidential source indicating that Navy reservist Raymond Zumba had offered bribes for unauthorized Department of Defense identification cards at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Acting under federal direction, the source engaged in communications with Zumba about obtaining ID cards in exchange for cash payments.
On February 13, 2025, Zumba traveled from New York to Jacksonville with Anny Chen, Feng, and Cheok. They were taken into the personnel office at NAS Jacksonville after hours where attempts were made to issue ID cards for Chen and Cheok. The next day Zumba exchanged $3,500 for two ID cards provided by the source; he was arrested immediately after and the cards were recovered.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation alongside the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys David Mesrobian and Michael J. Coolican will prosecute the case.
