A federal grand jury has charged 11 individuals in a marriage fraud conspiracy tied to a Chinese transnational criminal organization that allegedly recruited U.S. Navy service members to enter sham marriages with Chinese nationals, securing immigration benefits and gaining physical access to American military installations.
The three-count indictment, unsealed in Jacksonville, Florida, describes a scheme operating from March 2024 through February 2025.
Five suspects were arrested on February 3 by Homeland Security Investigations and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, while two others are expected to surrender.
Six defendants remain at large.
Four former Navy service members have already pleaded guilty in related cases and are awaiting sentencing.
Cash Payments and Military Base Access
According to prosecutors, the organization recruited U.S. citizens, preferably members of the armed forces, to marry Chinese nationals in exchange for structured payments.
Initial cash was allegedly provided upfront, followed by additional payments once the foreign spouse obtained legal immigration status and again after divorce proceedings.
Because military spouses receive identification granting entry to U.S. installations, investigators say the operation created a pathway for foreign nationals to gain access to sensitive military facilities.
Sham marriages connected to the conspiracy occurred across several states, including New York, Connecticut, Nevada, and Florida, indicating a multistate network.
Naval Air Station Jacksonville Sting
One of the most detailed incidents in the indictment centers on a February 2025 operation at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
Law enforcement received information that Navy reservist Raymond Zumba had attempted to bribe individuals connected to the base’s identification office to obtain unauthorized Department of Defense identification cards.
Federal agents directed a confidential source to continue communicating with Zumba.
On Feb. 13, Zumba traveled from New York to Jacksonville with three co-defendants, Anny Chen, Hailing Feng, and Kin Man Cheok, and brought two of them onto the installation after business hours to begin the ID card process.
The following day, Zumba allegedly paid $3,500 in exchange for two identification cards and was arrested at the scene.
Authorities recovered both cards.
Defendants and Charges
The indictment names multiple defendants facing charges that include marriage fraud, conspiracy, and bribery conspiracy:
- Anny Chen, 54, of New York
- Kiah Holly, 29, of Maryland
- Kin Man Cheok, 32, of China
- Hailing Feng, 27, of New York
- Xionghu Fang, 41, of China
Each conspiracy count carries a potential sentence of up to five years in federal prison.
Former Navy personnel Raymond Zumba, Brinio Urena, Morgan Chambers, and Jacinth Bailey have already pleaded guilty in related proceedings.
National Security Implications
Federal investigators emphasized that the case extends beyond immigration fraud because it allegedly involved deliberate efforts to exploit military spousal privileges to gain installation access.
Homeland Security Investigations Tampa acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Cochran said:
“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.
“Through the dedication and expertise of our agents and partners, we have successfully investigated, disrupted, and dismantled a sophisticated criminal network operating across borders.”
Authorities say the investigation spanned multiple jurisdictions and involved coordination between HSI offices nationwide and NCIS.
Six suspects connected to the alleged network remain unaccounted for as the case proceeds.
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