The United States government has charged six individuals with fraud over their alleged involvement in a scheme to arrange sham marriages between U.S. citizens and undocumented foreign nationals to help the latter obtain permanent residency and citizenship.

The suspects were identified as Erica Daniels, 29, Chreise Alejandro, 39, Amara Pugh, 31, Jessica Tavares, 31, Jaylin Hill, 26 and alleged head of the scheme, Jennifer Gonzalez, 43, with five of them arrested by federal agents across the United States on Wednesday. 

According to the Department of Justice, Ms Gonzalez charged between $38,000 and $40,000 for each sham marriage and arranged up to 20 such unions, earning her at least $6 million over the 10-year period during which she operated the fraudulent scheme.

“Six individuals in Massachusetts have been charged with allegedly arranging sham marriages to fraudulently obtain immigration status for illegal aliens. 

“The organization’s leader has allegedly been orchestrating sham marriages for illegal aliens to enable them to fraudulently obtain immigration status for over 10 years and has made millions of dollars doing so,” the State Department said. 

It added, “Gonzalez’s operation allegedly averages approximately 18 to 20 illegal marriages per year, typically charging between $38,000 to $40,000 per sham marriage. It is alleged that Gonzalez has earned hundreds of thousands of dollars per year over at least the last 10 years.”

Authorities alleged that Ms Gonzalez confessed during interrogation to using the proceeds of the fraudulent scheme to purchase businesses and real estate in the Dominican Republic. 

Her role in the scheme allegedly involved coaching clients on the required documentation and how to make their marriages appear legitimate when filing immigration claims.

The six defendants were charged with conspiracy to harbour illegal aliens, harbouring illegal aliens, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and marriage fraud. 

Gonzalez, Daniels, Alejandro, Pugh and Tavares were arrested on Wednesday, while Hill is currently serving a state prison sentence for a firearms offence. They made their first appearances in court on the same day but the outcome of the hearings has yet to be released as of the time this report was filed.