BALTIMORE, MD—Four individuals are facing federal charges for their involvement in facilitating visa and marriage fraud, according to an announcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Maryland. The investigation, conducted in collaboration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland, led to the arrests of Ella Zuran, 65, Tatiana Sigal, 74, and Alexandra Tkach, 41, all from New York City, New York, and Shawnta Hopper, 33, of Sicklerville, New Jersey.
The charges stem from an investigation initiated in April 2022 by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Maryland’s Document and Benefit Fraud/El Dorado Task Force, in conjunction with USCIS’s Office of Fraud Detection and National Security. The investigation focused on individuals suspected of entering into fraudulent marriages with foreign nationals to secure immigration benefits.
Interviews with U.S. citizen petitioners revealed their participation in the scheme, for which they received financial compensation. The investigation subsequently led to the arrest of Zuran, Sigal, and Tkach in March 2025. These individuals were allegedly involved in orchestrating fraudulent marriage schemes, charging thousands of dollars for facilitating introductions to U.S. citizens and arranging sham weddings. They also prepared false immigration documents, including fake health status attestations, for their clients.
In addition to the three women, Hopper was also arrested for her role in recruiting U.S. citizens, particularly women in Baltimore and other locations, to participate in these fraudulent marriages for financial gain.
“Marriage fraud is not a victimless crime — it compromises the integrity of our immigration system, diverts critical resources, and erodes public trust in a process that countless individuals follow legally and in good faith,” said ICE HSI Maryland Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy. “These arrests mark a critical milestone in our broader effort to dismantle a criminal network that has sought to undermine our nations immigration laws. HSI remains committed to safeguarding the lawful immigration process and holding accountable those who seek to exploit it.”
The defendants face up to five years in federal prison if convicted. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland emphasized that an indictment is not a finding of guilt, and the individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels
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