Key Takeaways
• Marcialito Biol Benitez led a ring arranging over 600 fake marriages, making $8 million from 2016 to 2022.
• Sentences included up to 22 months prison, supervised release, and fines; stricter marriage green card checks nationwide began 2023.
• USCIS warns of penalties: up to five years’ prison, $250,000 fines, deportation, and permanent bans for California Marriage Fraud.
Federal authorities have taken strong action against California Marriage Fraud, bringing a major fake marriage ring to justice and sending a warning across the United States 🇺🇸. In April 2025, sentencing details and new immigration policy steps were released in the aftermath of a high-profile case that centered on Marcialito Biol Benitez. This group did not just arrange fake marriages—they prepared fake documents and even abused legal protections like the Violence Against Women Act to get green cards for hundreds of undocumented immigrants. Here’s what happened, what it means for immigrants and attorneys, and what everyone should know about staying on the right side of the law.
The California Marriage Fraud Case: How It Worked
From late 2016 until early 2022, Benitez and his partners ran a business in Los Angeles that set up hundreds of fake marriages. These were not real relationships. Instead, they promised undocumented immigrants—many from the Philippines 🇵🇭—a green card if they paid thousands of dollars. U.S. citizens, sometimes desperate for money, were recruited to play the part of a spouse.
People paid between $20,000 and $35,000 for this “service.” That fee covered everything:
- Arranging a fake marriage complete with staged photos and fake records showing the couple together.
- Preparing false paperwork, like the I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence), and I-864 (Affidavit of Support). These are forms everyone must file for family-based green cards.
- Creating fake tax documents and utility bills, all to make the marriages look real.
- Coaching both the immigrant and the citizen on how to answer questions during interviews with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers so they could fool the system.
- When things went wrong—if a U.S. spouse threatened to reveal the scam—Benitez’s group would sometimes file a report under the Violence Against Women Act, pretending the immigrant was a victim of abuse. This law is supposed to protect real victims of violence, allowing them to get legal status on their own. Here, it was twisted to help a fraud.
In total, more than 600 known cases went through this operation. It made more than $8 million over several years.
Who Was Sentenced and What Did They Get?
After an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI Boston Division, and special units inside USCIS, the masterminds were sent to court:
- Marcialito Biol Benitez, age 50: 22 months in prison plus three years on supervised release
- Juanita Pacson, age 48: Two years on supervised release, with the first four months as home detention
- Engilbert Ulan, age 43 or 44: 14 months in prison plus three years on supervised release
- Nino Valmeo, age 47: Three years on supervised release, first six months home confinement
Most admitted guilt, but Engilbert Ulan went to trial. There, the jury learned he alone arranged more than 300 fake marriages.
Seven other helpers were charged too, with their punishment based on how much they helped investigators or how involved they were.
Federal Crackdown: What’s Changed Since the Arrests?
Stricter Checks for All
Since early 2023, and moving into 2025, U.S. immigration officials have taken a tougher approach:
- Joint Task Forces: It’s now normal for HSI, the FBI, and USCIS to work together in big cities to search for more fraud rings just like Benitez’s group.
- Tougher Reviews: All applications for marriage-based green cards now face extra checks. Now, in-person interviews for both people in the marriage are required before approval. This is a national policy suggestion that started getting strict attention after the California Marriage Fraud case came out.
Bigger Penalties for Marriage Fraud
USCIS has sent out many new warnings about the risks of fraud. They say:
“Marriage fraud damages the reliability of our immigration system… Getting married just to receive benefits is a crime & can lead to deportation… Section 1325(c) states any individual who knowingly enters into a marriage [to evade] immigration laws shall be imprisoned up to five years or fined up $250,000—or both.”
This means that if you’re caught—even years after getting your green card—you can lose your legal status, be removed from the United States 🇺🇸, and spend years in jail.
More Ways to Report Fraud
Federal agencies have set up new online portals. If a person suspects California Marriage Fraud, they can tip off authorities by reporting on these websites. These tips can even be left anonymously. As reported by VisaVerge.com, Canada 🇨🇦 has set up a similar system to tackle fake document fraud as well.
Fraud, Green Cards, and the Violence Against Women Act
One of the most troubling parts of this case was the use of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) for fraud. VAWA is designed to protect people—mostly women—who have been victims of abuse from family members. If an immigrant is married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder who abuses them, they can ask for legal status on their own without that person’s help.
Benitez’s group made fake claims under the Violence Against Women Act so that if a U.S. spouse didn’t cooperate, the immigrant could still get a green card. This kind of abuse hurts actual victims who need help and makes the process harder for people bringing real claims.
Are There Other Cases Like This?
This isn’t just a problem in California. Similar cases have popped up all over the country. For example, in Houston, a scheme organized over 500 fake marriages between Vietnamese nationals and Americans, with each arrangement costing up to $70,000. That group made more than $15 million.
Federal prosecutors say anyone involved—not just planners, but also people who apply for green cards using these fake marriages—faces years of prison, big fines, and permanent bans from living in the United States 🇺🇸.
What Should Immigrants and Lawyers Know Now?
For Immigrants:
- Don’t believe anyone who promises a “guaranteed” green card through a fast or easy marriage. If someone offers to arrange a marriage for cash, it’s not just risky—it’s illegal. You could be deported and barred from coming back to the United States 🇺🇸.
- Never provide fake papers or agree to a fake relationship, even if someone threatens you or promises you’ll be safe.
- If anyone approaches you with this kind of offer, talk to a licensed attorney—not a paid “agent” or “consultant.”
For Attorneys and Advocates:
- Watch for red flags. Did the couple meet recently and already want to get married? Are there gaps in their paperwork, no shared accounts, or evidence of money changing hands?
- During interviews and paperwork review, pay attention to coached answers or forced stories that seem rehearsed.
- Remember, USCIS now does random audits, even after a green card is approved. If fraud is found later, the immigrant can lose their legal status and be prosecuted.
How to Avoid These Scams
Staying safe from California Marriage Fraud, or any immigration scam, means following some basic steps:
- Only work with verified lawyers or official legal resources—not “fixers” or people who guarantee results for a fee.
- Use real, official government websites like USCIS.gov.
- Never pay someone who promises to make your case “go faster” or “guarantee” an outcome. The U.S. government doesn’t let anyone skip the line.
- If someone suggests a fake marriage, report them. You can contact the ICE tip line or talk to local police.
- For real family sponsorship—like for K-1 fiancé(e) visas or marriage-based green cards—use the official paperwork. Fiancé(e)s need Form I-129F. Spouses need Form I-130 and Form I-485. Always tell the truth about your relationship.
A New Era for Marriage-Based Immigration: What Comes Next?
This crackdown shows that the United States 🇺🇸 wants to protect its immigration system from abuse. Honest families should not suffer because of criminal groups taking advantage of the rules.
Recent changes matter for everyone:
- Applicants should expect in-person interviews, extra questions, and background checks.
- Penalties for California Marriage Fraud now include huge fines (up to $250,000), jail time (up to five years), and permanent bans from U.S. immigration benefits.
- Anyone—from the person planning the scam to the people pretending to be married—can be charged with serious crimes.
For those using real, loving marriages or escaping abuse under the Violence Against Women Act, the process may take longer as a result of increased checks. Still, honesty keeps you safe in the long run.
Conclusion
The case involving Marcialito Biol Benitez and his group is a clear warning: America’s doors are open to real families and people in need—but not to those looking to cheat the system. Stricter rules and tougher checks will likely remain in place. Both immigrants and legal professionals must stay informed, work with real experts, and use official channels for any immigration benefit.
If you’re thinking about applying for any family-based immigration process, always use verified resources like USCIS.gov. This protects your future and helps keep the whole process fair for everyone. If someone offers a shortcut or encourages breaking the law, say no and walk away. The risks are too high, and the consequences—like jail, fines, or even lifetime bans—are very real.
Staying truthful, patient, and prepared is the best way to succeed. Today’s increased attention on California Marriage Fraud, along with the misuse of laws like the Violence Against Women Act, means every case will get more careful review. By following the rules, you help protect American immigration for those who truly belong.
For in-depth articles and ongoing updates on immigration cases and policy developments, VisaVerge.com continues to be a trusted news leader. Use their reporting and the resources of official U.S. government sites to make every step of your journey safe, clear, and legal.
Learn Today
Marriage Fraud → Entering or arranging a marriage solely for immigration benefits, not a genuine relationship, to obtain green cards or legal status.
Green Card → A permit allowing a foreign national to live and work permanently in the United States as a lawful permanent resident.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) → A U.S. law protecting survivors of domestic abuse, allowing independent immigration relief for abused spouses, children, or parents.
USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) → Government agency overseeing legal immigration, applications for citizenship, green cards, and family visas in the United States.
Supervised Release → A period after prison when an offender is monitored by authorities, with behavior conditions, instead of returning directly to normal freedom.
This Article in a Nutshell
Federal agents busted a Los Angeles marriage fraud ring led by Marcialito Biol Benitez. Hundreds paid thousands for fake unions, green cards, and paperwork. New sentencing, stricter checks, and harsh penalties now deter similar scams nationwide. Only real marriages, truthful information, and official legal resources protect immigrants’ futures and honest families’ rights.
— By VisaVerge.com
