Two Chinese nationals allegedly took part in a sham marriage operation that involved marrying U.S. Navy service members in order to secure lawful permanent residency, according to reporting by the New York Times.
The newspaper said Morgan Chambers and Jacinth Bailey were “charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years.” Court records indicate that Chambers told investigators she had been “recruited in September 2024 to enter a sham marriage.”
Prosecutors allege that under the arrangement she was “offered $35,000, including $10,00 in upfront cash,” with an additional $20,000 to be paid once the Chinese national she married received a green card. A final payment would be made after the divorce was completed. Bailey was also “recruited around the same time” to participate in a similar scheme.
“Ms. Chambers and Ms. Bailey are charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years,” the New York Times reported. Neither woman has appeared before a judge or entered a plea. Authorities have not disclosed which Navy installations they were assigned to or what specific roles they held at the time.
Both defendants waived their right to formal indictment, a legal step sometimes taken to speed up proceedings or seek more favorable plea terms, reports Breitbart News.
According to Chambers’ court filing, the alleged deal included $35,000 in total compensation: $10,000 paid upfront, $20,000 once the Chinese national obtained a green card, and $5,000 after the divorce was finalized. The filing states that Bailey was recruited around the same period and was allegedly promised $45,000 for entering a fraudulent marriage.
The New York Times noted that this is not the first case involving U.S. Navy personnel accused of participating in fake marriage schemes.
In February 2025, Raymond Zumba, described as a “Navy reservist,” was arrested “on suspicion of bribing a public official to get military identification cards that could allow Chinese immigrants onto a military base.” Zumba was also “accused of recruiting Americans” to take part in fraudulent marriages, according to the outlet.
In a separate case, Brinio Urena, a former U.S. Navy recruiter, was charged in August 2025 for “entering a sham marriage and recruiting a service member” to join a similar operation. Urena later pleaded guilty, the report said.
