17 indicted in marriage scam probe in Virginia involving Navy personnel, Russian women

17 indicted in Va. marriage scam investigation

NORFOLK, Va. — Seventeen people are accused of participating in a scheme that paired Navy personnel with Russian women for bogus marriages.

U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride announced the charges Wednesday after a 28-count federal indictment was unsealed in federal court in Norfolk. MacBride says all the defendants have been arrested.

The charges include conspiracy, marriage fraud, false claims, theft of government property, false statements related to naturalization or citizenship, and naturalization fraud.

According to the indictment, the scheme allowed the women to get an immigration benefit, while the Navy personnel filed for additional pay based on the sham marriages.