11 charged in Florida for marriage fraud scheme targeting US service members
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. / February 11, 2026 — The Homeland Security Task Force in Jacksonville announced a multijurisdictional enforcement operation targeting a Chinese transnational criminal organization for marriage fraud. The organization recruited U.S. service members to participate in fraudulent marriages and enabled Chinese nationals to obtain immigration benefits and access cards for U.S. military installations. The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida unsealed a three-count indictment charging 11 in the scheme with marriage fraud conspiracy, marriage fraud and bribery conspiracy.
“This investigation underscores the critical role that HSI plays in protecting our nation from transnational criminal organizations that seek to exploit our customs and immigration laws and threaten our national security,” said HSI Tampa acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Cochran. “Through the dedication and expertise of our agents and partners, we have successfully investigated, disrupted and dismantled a sophisticated criminal network operating across borders.”
According to the indictment, the organization allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to recruit U.S. citizens, preferably members of the armed forces, to enter sham marriages to Chinese nationals for the purpose of evading immigration laws and illicitly obtaining lawful permanent resident status for the Chinese nationals. The sham marriages took place around the country, including in Jacksonville, as well as in New York, Connecticut and Nevada. To create the illusion of a real marriage, the conspirators took photographs of the couples to create evidence that could be presented to immigration authorities to suggest that the marriages were legitimate, and the couples were in loving, committed relationships. In reality, the conspirators had agreed to a payment plan whereby the U.S. citizen spouse would receive a cash payment up front for marrying the Chinese national, a second payment when legal immigration status was obtained, and a final payment after the divorce.
On Feb. 3, HSI Jacksonville and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Southeast, with assistance from HSI New York, HSI Baltimore, HSI Los Angeles and partner agencies, arrested five of the subjects. An additional two targets are scheduled to self-surrender. HSI will continue to make attempts to locate and apprehend the remaining six targets in this investigation. ICE and federal prosecutors are pursuing denaturalization proceedings against Quianhua “Anny” Chen, who is suspected of obtaining U.S. citizenship through fraud.
Those charged with marriage fraud conspiracy between March 2024 and February 2025, who each face a- maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, include:
- Anny Chen, 54, of New York. She is also charged with marriage fraud and bribery conspiracy, with a maximum of five years in prison for each guilty conviction.
- Kiah Holly, 29, of Maryland.
- Kin Man Cheok, 32, of China, who is also charged with bribery conspiracy between November 2024 and Feb. 14, 2025.
- Hailing Feng, 27, of New York, who is also charged with bribery conspiracy.
- Xionghu Fang, 41, of China.
In related cases, Raymond Zumba, Brinio Urena, Morgan Chambers and Jacinth Bailey, former service members in the U.S. Navy, have all pleaded guilty to charges related to the same scheme. Their sentencing hearings are pending.
The indictment also alleges that Anny Chen, Hailing Feng and Kin Man Cheok conspired to bribe a public official. Specifically, in January 2025, a confidential source reported to law enforcement that Navy reservist Raymond Zumba — who has also already pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official — had offered to bribe the source and the source’s spouse, who worked at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in the personnel office that issues Department of War identification cards. The source reported that Zumba asked whether the spouse would be willing to issue real, but unauthorized, ID cards for an under-the-table payment. Acting at the direction of federal agents, the source proceeded to engage in a series of communications with Zumba during which they discussed Zumba’s plan to obtain unauthorized ID cards in exchange for cash. After driving from New York, Zumba arrived in Jacksonville on Feb. 13, 2025, with Anny Chen, Feng and Cheok.
Zumba brought the individuals to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, where the source’s spouse let them into the personnel office after business hours and initiated the process for Anny Chen and Cheok to receive ID cards. The following day, Zumba met with the source, who gave him two cards in exchange for $3,500. Zumba was promptly arrested, and the cards were recovered.
This an HSI- and NCIS-led investigation, with significant assistance from FBI Jacksonville, IRS-Criminal Investigation Jacksonville and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Jacksonville.
Read more about this case here.
Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)
