Florida Marriage Fraud Scheme Involving U.S. Military Service Members and Chinese Nationals Uncovered by ICE
A group of eleven individuals in Florida have been charged in connection with an alleged marriage fraud scheme involving U.S. military service members marrying Chinese citizens. The scheme was orchestrated by a Chinese transnational gang to help Chinese citizens obtain immigration benefits and access cards for U.S. military installations, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The investigation revealed that the sham marriages took place in various locations across the country, including Jacksonville, Florida, as well as in New York, Connecticut, and Nevada. To make the marriages appear legitimate, the suspects took photos of the couples to provide evidence to immigration authorities that they were in committed relationships.
The suspects had arranged a payment plan where the U.S. citizen spouse would receive cash payments for marrying the Chinese national, with additional payments upon obtaining legal immigration status and after a divorce. Five individuals were charged with marriage fraud conspiracy between March 2024 and February 2025, including former U.S. Navy service members Raymond Zumba, Brinio Urena, Morgan Chambers, and Jacinth Bailey, who have pleaded guilty to charges related to the scheme.
Federal prosecutors also alleged that Anny Chen, Hailing Feng, and Kin Man Cheok conspired to bribe a public official. Zumba, who served in the Navy Reserve, was accused of attempting to bribe an unidentified source and the source's spouse who worked at Naval Air Station Jacksonville to issue unauthorized ID cards for a payment. Zumba, along with Chen, Feng, and Cheok, arrived in Jacksonville and were let into the personnel office to receive ID cards. Zumba was arrested the next day after allegedly receiving two cards in exchange for money.
The investigation highlights the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in combating transnational criminal organizations that exploit immigration laws and threaten national security. The successful disruption of this criminal network demonstrates the dedication and expertise of law enforcement agencies and their partners in safeguarding the country from such threats.