Santa Fe Springs Man Pleads Guilty in Marriage Fraud Case

LOS ANGELES, CA - A Santa Fe Springs man pleaded guilty Monday to a federal charge for posing as an attorney as part of an immigration fraud scheme in which Chinese nationals paid tens of thousands of dollars to be "married" to U.S. citizens.

Jason Shiao, 66, is scheduled to be sentenced April 24 by U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer on one count of conspiracy to commit visa and marriage fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Shiao's daughter, 44-year-old Lynn Leung of Pasadena, pleaded guilty to the same charge last September and is awaiting sentencing.

A third defendant, Shannon Mendoza, is scheduled to stand trial in March in downtown Los Angeles.

Prosecutors said Chinese nationals paid the defendants up to $50,000 to enter into sham marriages in the hopes of obtaining lawful permanent resident cards -- often referred to as "green cards" -- that would allow them to legally live in the United States.

Shiao and Leung lined up U.S. citizen "spouses" for their clients and coached the couples on how to make the marriages appear genuine when questioned by immigration authorities, according to court papers.

They also prepared and filed immigration petitions and created fraudulent paper trails for the "couples," including phony apartment leases, wedding photos and bank statements.

-- City News Service, photo via Shutterstock