BALTIMORE, MD — Four individuals have been federally indicted after a sweeping investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uncovered an illegal scheme facilitating visa and marriage fraud. Ella Zuran, 65, Tatiana Sigal, 74, and Alexandra Tkach, 41, all from New York City , along with Shawnta Hopper, 33, of Sicklerville, New Jersey , were charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud following a coordinated operation.
The investigation, assisted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland , resulted in the administrative arrest of 10 individuals on April 24. Immigration benefits granted to the involved parties have been revoked as part of the operation.
Key Points
- Four individuals indicted for facilitating sham marriages to obtain immigration benefits.
- ICE HSI Maryland led the investigation, resulting in 10 administrative arrests.
- Defendants face up to five years in federal prison if convicted.
“Marriage fraud is not a victimless crime — it compromises the integrity of our immigration system,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Maryland Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy. Authorities emphasized that such acts divert vital resources and erode public trust in the legal immigration process.
According to the indictment, the investigation into the fraudulent marriages began in April 2022 under the Document and Benefit Fraud/El Dorado Task Force. U.S. citizen petitioners involved admitted during interviews that they were compensated financially to marry foreign nationals for immigration benefits.
Federal agents crack down on fraud with coordinated effort
HSI Maryland arrested Zuran, Sigal, and Tkach in March 2025. They allegedly orchestrated sham weddings, connected foreign nationals with U.S. citizens, and falsified immigration forms, including fake health attestations. Defendants received thousands of dollars for arranging these fraudulent marriages…