Federal prosecutors in Florida have pulled back the curtain on a sprawling criminal network that allegedly traded wedding rings and military access for cold, hard cash. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the unsealing of a three-count indictment this week, charging 11 individuals from Florida, New York, and Maryland for their alleged roles in a sophisticated conspiracy to cheat the American immigration system.
The scheme wasn’t just a local affair; it stretched from the beaches of Florida to the streets of New York, Connecticut, and Nevada.
According to the indictment, the group specifically targeted U.S. citizens—with a heavy preference for members of the armed forces—to enter into sham marriages with Chinese nationals. The goal was simple: bypass federal laws to secure lawful permanent residency for the foreign participants.
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To the outside world, these couples looked legitimate. The indictment claims the conspirators carefully staged photographs to create a digital trail of “loving, committed relationships” to present to immigration officials. Behind the scenes, however, it was a business transaction. Authorities say the American spouses were promised a tiered payout: an upfront cash deposit for the wedding, a second payment once the green card was secured, and a final installment after the divorce papers were signed.
The investigation has already snagged several former Navy members. Raymond Zumba, Brinio Urena, Morgan Chambers, and Jacinth Bailey have all pleaded guilty to related charges and are currently awaiting their sentences.
But the allegations don’t stop at fake weddings. The plot reportedly took a bolder turn into bribery. In early 2025, a confidential source alerted agents that Zumba, a Navy reservist, was looking for a “hookup” inside Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville. The plan was to bribe a personnel office employee to issue real, unauthorized Department of Defense ID cards.
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The sting operation reached its climax on February 13, 2025. After driving down from New York, Zumba arrived at the base with Anny Chen, Hailing Feng, and Kin Man Cheok. Following an after-hours meeting to process the IDs, Zumba met with the source the next day to hand over $3,500 in exchange for the cards. Federal agents moved in immediately, arresting Zumba and recovering the evidence.
If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in federal prison for each charge, including marriage fraud conspiracy and bribery. While the evidence presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office paints a detailed picture of deception, it is important to remember that an indictment is only a formal accusation. Every individual named is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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