AoSHQ The Morning Report
October 23, 2026
Friday, October 23, 2026
Massive Sham Marriage and Immigration Fraud Scheme Uncovered in Massachusetts
BOSTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged six people with participating in a long-running scheme to allegedly arrange hundreds of sham marriages in Massachusetts in order to help immigrants unlawfully obtain green cards and potential US citizenship.
US Attorney Leah Foley during a press conference in Boston said the scheme's alleged mastermind, Jennifer Gonzalez, helped organize sham marriages for over a decade in Massachusetts, a Democratic-led state the defendant described as a "sanctuary" jurisdiction where "you get a lot of help as an immigrant."
It marked the latest such case by the US Department of Justice as part of Republican President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. In August, it brought one of the largest such cases when in New York it charged 11 people over a scheme prosecutors said facilitated about 1,000 sham marriages.
Gonzalez, 43, told a cooperating witness posing as a client that her group helped obtain hundreds of permanent resident cards, or green cards, for non-citizens living illegally in Massachusetts, charging $38,000 to $40,000 for marriages to US citizens, according to a criminal complaint
Authorities said the operation ran about 12 years and averaged about 18 to 20 fraudulent marriages annually, generating over $6 million in profits
. Gonzalez, a US-born citizen, told the witness her goal was "for you to get the American Dream," but that her business had become more difficult after Trump in 2025 returned to office, the complaint said.
Foley, whom the Trump administration appointed as the state's top federal prosecutor, called it a sophisticated scheme that Gonzalez was "operating with impunity under the last administration."
"My hope is that today the charged defendants and others like them realize that the American dream is not for sale," Foley said. "It is earned. And when you try to pilfer it for profit, we will hold you accountable." Gonzalez is charged with harboring immigrants living illegally in the United States and marriage fraud. Her lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Other defendants include people accused of aiding Gonzalez's scheme or entering into sham marriages with immigrants.
Kruiser's Morning Brief
Stephen Kruiser
The Morning Briefing
October 23, 2026
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Mike Minogue for Governor
Massachusetts heard from GOP candidate Mike Minogue Wednesday night during a live, 30-minute interview focused on the state’s issues and viewer questions.
The special coverage comes after Tuesday night, when Kavanaugh spoke with Governor Maura Healey.
Watch the full interview with GOP candidate Mike Minogue:
‘Liar’ Most Common Word Voters Use To Describe Maura Healey In New Poll - New Boston Post
Kruiser's Morning Report
Stephen Kruiser
The Morning Briefing
October 22, 2026
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Kruiser's Morning Brief
Stephen Kruiser
The Morning Briefing
October 21, 2026
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