U.S. Attorney Leah Foley is joined by John Soars, assistant special agent in charge Homeland Security Investigations in New England and Shawn Saucier, Northeast Regional Chief, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, to announce the arrest of six people for allegedly arranging sham marriages over the past decade that netted them millions of dollars during a news conference on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2025 in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Casey)

Wedding rings were exchanged, and photos of a smiling bride and well-dressed groom made it look like these were legitimate marriages.

But federal authorities argued Wednesday that the ceremonies were part of an elaborate, decade-long marriage fraud ring that netted a half-dozen people in Massachusetts millions of dollars. Prosecutors charged six people, including the alleged ringleader Jennifer Gonzalez, with conducting as many as 20 marriages to help immigrants obtain legal status.


The other five were allegedly paid by Gonzalez to take part in the marriages - several of them taking part in multiple nuptials. Each marriage cost an immigrant from $38,000 to $40,000. All face charges including harboring illegal aliens, conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and marriage fraud.

 What an affront the alleged conduct revealed here today must be to those who play by the rules,  U.S. Attorney Leah Foley told reporters.  To see a for-profit business whose sole purpose is helping people cheat and skip the line by simply paying for it must be so offensive and disheartening to those who follow our country's laws. 

Five of the six were arrested Wednesday morning. A sixth defendant is currently in state prison serving a sentence for a firearms crime.

 Ms. Gonzalez got rich off selling the American Dream all the while investing her money in another country,  Foley said, detailing how Gonzalez allegedly used profits from the marriage ring to buy businesses and real estate in the Dominican Republic. She is an American citizen.

An attorney for Gonzalez, 43, of Fall River, Massachusetts, had no comment. Gonzalez 
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