Mayor Mamdani, TDF Announce Thousands of Free and Low-Cost Broadway Tickets for High School Students to Close Out Summer

 

Lottery for more than 2,000 free tickets to seven Broadway shows opens today through Monday; New York City high school students can enter at on.nyc.gov/Broadway  

 

Students who enter lottery will also receive a free two-month TDF Membership, providing access to discounted Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets and free admission to over 20 cultural institutions  

 

Announcement builds on Mamdani administration’s efforts to connect young New Yorkers with  free and low cost programming throughout the summer 

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the Theatre Development Fund (TDF) announced that New York City high school students will have the opportunity to receive thousands of free and low-cost tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows through the end of summer and into the fall.  

Starting today, high school students can enter a lottery to receive free tickets to one of seven marquee Broadway shows: Buena Vista Social Club; In the Heights (New York City Center); School Girls Or, The African Mean Girls Play; Stranger Things: The First Shadow; The Lost Boys; The Great Gatsby and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). The lottery will remain open through Monday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m., and selected students will be able to claim up to two tickets. 

High school students can enter the lottery at on.nyc.gov/Broadway. 

Every student who enters the lottery will automatically receive a free, two-month TDF membership, giving them access to deeply discounted tickets to Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway shows, as well as music, museums and dance. Discounted tickets typically range from $20 to $40, giving students the opportunity to experience a wide range of performances across the city. 

Students can claim their free TDF Membership and download their digital membership cards even after the lottery has ended; free two-month TDF memberships will remain available through Sept. 13 at on.nyc.gov/Broadway. 

“In a city overflowing with extraordinary art and culture, every young person should have the opportunity to experience those moments, regardless of what’s in their bank account,” said Mayor Mamdani. “That’s why, in partnership with TDF, we’re offering more than 2,000 free tickets to some of Broadway’s most exciting shows, along with discounted tickets to many more. We want every high school student to have the opportunity to explore this city, experience incredible art and discover something that stays with them long after the curtain falls.” 

“At TDF, we believe that theatre is the birthright of every New Yorker, and since our founding in 1968, we have welcomed close to 70 million theatregoers with low-cost and free admissions to Broadway and NYC theatre," said Deeksha Gaur, TDF’s Executive Director. “We believe that individuals and societies are healthier when residents have access to art. That is why we are deeply grateful to Mayor Mamdani for partnering with TDF on this essential opportunity for New York City high schoolers. We—along with our incredible industry partners—look forward to facilitating a lifelong relationship with the arts for these young New Yorkers, leading to joyful, transformative experiences while strengthening the fabric of our great city.”   

TDF Membership will also give New York City high school students the opportunity to visit some of New York City’s most iconic cultural institutions for free or at deeply discounted rates by showing their TDF Membership card. Participating organizations include: 

  

•    American Museum of Natural History 

•    Brooklyn Botanical Garden 

•    Brooklyn Museum 

•    Carnegie Hall 

•    Flushing Town Hall 

•    Historic Richmond Town 

•    Jamaica Center for the Arts and Learning 

•    Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts 

•    Louis Armstrong House Museum 

•    MoMA PS1 

•    Museum of Jewish Heritage 

•    New York City Ballet 

•    New York City Center 

•    New York Hall of Science 

•    New York Botanical Garden 

•    Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater 

•    Queens Botanical Garden 

•    Snug Harbor Cultural Center 

•    Staten Island Museum 

•    The Bronx Museum 

•    The Metropolitan Museum of Art 

•    The Public Theater/NY Shakespeare Festival 

•    Wave Hill Public Garden & Cultural Center 

•    Wildlife Conservation Society 

 

“From theater to dance to music, art is how a city dreams out loud — how we reckon with our past, imagine our future, and build the connective tissue of democracy and belonging. That’s why we invested a historic $323 million into the Department of Cultural Affairs, why we established the Cultural Stability Fund to support struggling organizations, and why we’re so proud to bring thousands of free and discounted theater tickets to high school students,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “With this initiative we’ll offer high schoolers the chance to watch world-class theater and visit iconic museums for free this Summer. At the heart of our administration is a fierce belief that the arts are not optional but essential, and that culture is not a private luxury for the few but a public good for all. With announcements like this one, we are bringing that belief to life.” 

“Art and culture belong to every New Yorker, and we want young people to know that our city’s stages, galleries and cultural centers are theirs, too,” said NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij. “As students head back to school, there’s no better time to discover something new with friends, be inspired and experience the energy of the arts. New York City is the cultural capital of the world—but more importantly, it's your city, and these free tickets are your invitation to embrace it.” 

“In a cultural center as vibrant as New York City, every young person should have the opportunity to experience the arts, and that includes our city's incredible Broadway performances,” said Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “We’re thrilled to partner with Mayor Mamdani and TDF to make these experiences more accessible to our students, while giving them a chance to discover new stories, perspectives, and possibilities. This is what it means to use our city as a classroom and to give our students the enriching cultural opportunities they deserve.”   

“Theater is at the heart of New York City, and every New Yorker deserves the opportunity to experience it,” said Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Rafael Espinal. “We’re proud to support our Mayor’s commitment to making our city more affordable and accessible by working with our longtime partners at TDF to open the doors to more New Yorkers. This program builds on our support for TDF’s Graduation Gift and Seats on the Spectrum programs and continues our work to make New York’s extraordinary cultural offerings accessible to everyone.” 

“As a former dancer, I know firsthand that the arts can shape how a young person sees themselves and their future. I still remember seeing A Chorus Line as my first Broadway show and the sense of possibility it opened up for me,” said Department of Youth and Community Development Commissioner Sandra Escamilla-Davies. “In a city with some of the greatest arts and culture in the world, a family’s ability to pay should not determine whether a young person gets to experience it. This initiative is about opening those doors and making sure more young New Yorkers know that Broadway, and everything it can awaken in them, belongs to them too.” 

Any New York City student in grades 9 through 12 is eligible for the free, two-month TDF membership and the Broadway ticket giveaway. 

Today’s announcement builds on the Mamdani administration’s commitment to connecting young New Yorkers with free and low-cost opportunities throughout the summer. Earlier this year, Mayor Mamdani launched “Summer in N.Y.C.,” an interactive website connecting young New Yorkers with affordable programming across the five boroughs, from painting classes and basketball leagues to soccer programs and other extracurricular opportunities. 

Mayor Mamdani has also made historic investments in New York City’s arts and culture, delivering a record $323 million in funding for the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) to ensure that the artists who fill our stages, streets, galleries and neighborhoods with art can afford to live and create in our city. The Mayor also established the Cultural Stability Fund to support cultural organizations facing unexpected or emergency circumstances. 

Today’s announcement marks a key partnership between the Mamdani administration and TDF. Founded in 1968, TDF is a nonprofit service organization dedicated to sharing the power of the performing arts with everyone. TDF works to engage a broad and diverse audience by removing financial, physical and invisible barriers to participation in the performing arts. 

 TDF’s initiatives include the TKTS by TDF Discount Booths, TDF Memberships, the TDF Costume Collection, and TDF Accessibility, Education, and Community Programs. These programs include open-captioned, audio-described and ASL-interpreted performances; Autism Friendly Performances; the Veterans Theatregoing Program; school programs serving more than 11,000 New York City public school students each year; and partnerships with more than 150 New York City community organizations serving 18,000 people across the tri-state area. TDF welcomes New York City’s vibrant communities to the theatre and recognizes the role the performing arts can play in strengthening mental health and social connections. 

For production photos and B-roll of the participating shows, click here.

Construction Begins On Tremont Avenue Busway In Tremont, The Bronx

Construction is underway on the Tremont Avenue busway, a mile-long bus-priority corridor in Tremont, The Bronx. Announced Wednesday by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn, the project will deliver the borough’s first busway, serving 39,000 daily riders on the Bx36. The redesign will also bring safety upgrades to eight intersections and 0.26 miles of additional bus lane. The corridor runs along Tremont Avenue from Webster Avenue east to Southern Boulevard, with connections to eight subway lines, Metro-North Railroad, and several local bus routes.

The project arrives after a years-long stall. NYC DOT presented its final proposal for the busway in March 2025 and planned to begin installation that spring, before the prior administration paused the project, citing insufficient community support. The Mamdani administration revived the plan last month as part of Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service, the joint action plan from the city, New York State, and the MTA targeting faster, more reliable service on 175 bus routes, and identified Tremont Avenue as one of its Priority Corridors.

 

The street redesign will include an eastbound busway from Third Avenue to Southern Boulevard, a westbound busway from Southern Boulevard to Belmont Avenue, and an offset shared bus and bicycle lane eastbound from Webster Avenue to Third Avenue. The busway will operate seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., with through access limited to buses, trucks with six or more wheels, emergency vehicles, and Access-A-Ride vans; all other vehicles, including taxis and for-hire vehicles, may enter from side streets for local access but must exit at the next available right turn. Enforcement will come from stationary cameras along the route, bus-mounted cameras, and the NYPD. NYC DOT will also adjust curb regulations and install new loading zones to reduce double parking, while the shorter westbound segment will preserve vehicle access to every block for pick-ups, drop-offs, and deliveries.

Tremont Avenue is a Vision Zero Priority Corridor, with among the highest rates of pedestrian deaths and serious injuries per mile in the borough. Between 2020 and 2024, nearly 630 people were injured in crashes along the corridor, an average of two per week, with 46 suffering severe injuries and four killed. Safety redesigns at eight intersections, including Tremont Avenue at Webster Avenue, Third Avenue, and Southern Boulevard and Crotona Parkway, will feature painted sidewalk extensions that shorten pedestrian crossing distances and naturally slow turning drivers, reinforced with plastic flex posts, granite blocks, and bicycle parking.

EMPTY DAYCARES, FULL CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT: STRONG AND SAFE NEW YORK STATEMENT ON HOCHUL PAY-TO-PLAY MACHINE

Today, Strong and Safe New York, a super PAC supporting Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for Governor, released the following statement in response to new reporting that Kathy Hochul's campaign is being funded by suspected Medicaid fraudsters.

"Kathy Hochul isn't just soft on fraud, she's funded by it. The same adult daycare operators who billed Medicaid $32 million for patients who don't exist wrote checks straight into her campaign account. Empty rooms, empty chairs, and a governor who cashed the checks anyway.

"Kathy Hochul built a pay-to-play machine off the backs of sick and elderly New Yorkers, and taxpayers are the ones getting robbed. New York can't afford four more years of a governor who's for sale. Vote Blakeman." 

– Chapin Fay, Spokesman, Strong and Safe New York

For more information click here.

 

Meat Processing Plant and Employees Charged with Conspiring to Violate the Clean Water Act and Discharging Pollutants in Puerto Rico

 

An indictment was unsealed charging César P. Borges-Arroyo, Neftalí Borges-Gómez, Erison Delgado-Santos, Héctor Fulgencio-Cabrera, and Ganaderos Borges Inc. (GBI), with four violations of the Clean Water Act as well as conspiring to violate the Clean Water Act. The charges relate to the discharge of pollutants from GBI into the waters of the United States. 

GBI is a corporation in Naguabo, Puerto Rico, that operates a slaughterhouse and meat processing plant. The operations encompass receiving and holding live animals for slaughter, butchering animals (bleeding), initial processing of animals, and operations that produce consumer-ready meat products. According to the indictment, the defendants conspired for the benefit of GBI, to knowingly discharge a pollutant — specifically wastewater from the meat processing waste retention lagoon — into waters of the United States without having obtained a Clean Water Act permit.

“We allege that this meat processing plant and at least four of its employees conspired to pump animal flesh, blood, and feces into a creek that flows to the ocean and a public beach,” said Principal Deputy Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The conduct alleged here sacrifices public health for economic gain, and it is a crime. The Department of Justice will hold violators accountable.”

“GBI repeatedly and intentionally violated the Clean Water Act by discharging untreated wastes into the Caribbean Sea at Tropical Beach in Naguabo,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Héctor Ramírez Carbó for the District of Puerto Rico. “This prosecution sends the message that those who purposely undermine federal environmental laws and endanger the environment and Puerto Rico communities will face felony prosecution for their illegal conduct.”

“The defendants’ willfully disregarded the complete prohibition on discharges under the Clean Water Act and knowingly sent a disgusting sludge of animal blood and waste, and cleaning products into the Caribbean Sea, only miles from nature preserves, beaches, and a military base. Illegal discharges such as these cause serious harm, jeopardizing the safety and health of the water, wildlife, and human health,” said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA will ensure that polluters who blight our communities and coastal waters will be held accountable.”

Starting in August 2018 and continuing through at least September 2025, GBI president Borges-Arroyo and GBI operator Borges-Gómez directed employees including, but not limited to, Delgado-Santos and Fulgencio-Cabrera to discharge liquid waste from GBI’s waste retention lagoon towards an adjacent creek. They did this by using a submersible pump placed in the waste retention lagoon and connected to a hose, attempting to avoid millions of dollars in annual waste removal costs. 

GBI generated waste from various on-site processes, including animal intake, slaughtering, hide removal, butchering, and cleaning. The waste included animal blood, hair, tissue, and feces, as well as grease, wastewater, disinfectant, and other liquids used inside the GBI slaughterhouse and processing areas. The mixed waste flowed from the facility to a discharge pipe that emptied into a waste retention lagoon located on the southwest corner of the GBI property. The western edge of the waste retention lagoon is adjacent to a creek which travels approximately half-a-mile to the Caribbean Sea at Tropical Beach in Naguabo, Puerto Rico. 

GBI held a non-discharge wastewater treatment permit that required liquid waste to be hauled from the facility to a disposal facility. At no time was any waste permitted to be discharged on-site or to any other body of water. The permit expired on July 31, 2019, and they continued to violate the Clean Water Act until at least September 2025.

To conceal the illegal waste discharge, the defendants hid the submersible pump and hose when it was not being used and provided false and misleading statements and documents to authorities to hide the illegal activities.

The defendants are scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Héctor Ramos Vega of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico for their respective initial appearances. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines for each charge. GBI faces a maximum penalty of $500,000 in fines per charge.

EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case with assistance from the FBI. EPA and FBI participate in the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Environmental Crimes Task Force.

Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Erbe for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case.

Report possible violations of environmental laws and regulations at epa.gov/tips, You can provide tips anonymously if you do not want to identify yourself.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Louisville Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl and Firearm Offenses

 

A Louisville man was sentenced to 16 years in prison for distribution of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

Calvin Allen, 37, of Louisville, Kentucky, was sentenced to 16 years in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

On 9 different occasions between May and November 2025, Allen sold fentanyl powder to a confidential informant. The total amount of fentanyl from all of the controlled purchases was 712.84 grams. During a June 2025 drug transaction, Allen possessed a Glock GmbH, Model 29, 10-millimeter pistol in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.

On November 24, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Allen’s residence. 60.26 grams of fentanyl powder, 13.32 grams of heroin and a Glock GmbH, Model 29, 10-millimeter pistol, and ammunition were seized. U.S. currency in the amount of $31,476.00 was seized as proceeds of drug trafficking during the execution of the search warrant. 

United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Allen’s lengthy sentence is commensurate with the danger posed by the fentanyl he trafficked into the Western District of Kentucky.  Too many families have lost loved ones to fentanyl or otherwise watched as a loved one suffered from deep drug addiction. Allen’s substantial sentence should give pause to others inclined to peddle fentanyl in Kentucky. Rest assured, our Office will not stop until the fentanyl is eradicated from our communities.” 

“Fentanyl trafficking combined with firearms is a lethal combination that ruins lives and destroys families,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “I’m proud of the work done by DEA and our law enforcement partners to bring Mr. Allen to justice and prevent further harm to our community.”

“Many families have suffered enduring pain due to the drug epidemic across our country,” said Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the Louisville Division. “ATF is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue drug dealers who use guns and violence to exploit the vulnerabilities that addiction creates. Drug dealers with guns are violent criminals who pose an increased threat to the safety of our communities.”

"Fentanyl and illegal firearms are a dangerous combination that puts lives across Louisville at risk," said Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey. "This sentence reflects the serious consequences for those who profit from distributing deadly drugs while armed. I’m grateful for the persistent work of our LMPD investigators and our federal partners at ATF, DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. By working together, we are holding those who fuel violence and addiction accountable and making Louisville a safer place.”

There is no parole in the federal system.   

Bloods Member Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Gang-Related Shooting at Hamptons House Party and for Selling Fentanyl that Resulted in Death and Serious Bodily Injury

 

Defendant and Two Others Opened Fire Multiple Times at Hamptons House Party and Sold Fentanyl that Caused One Fatal and Two Non-Fatal Overdoses

Bloods member Joshua Crowell, also known as “Twiggy,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown to 27 years in prison for assault in aid of racketeering and distribution of fentanyl that resulted in a death.  Crowell pleaded guilty to these charges in October 2025.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Raymond A. Tierney, District Attorney, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office (SCDAO); Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence. 

“Joshua Crowell committed acts of violence and sold lethal drugs on behalf of an extremely violent street gang,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “His criminal conduct left three people wounded by gunfire, claimed one life through a fatal overdose, and caused two others to suffer overdose-related injuries. Today’s sentence sends a clear and powerful message that those who terrorize our communities with gang violence and deadly drugs will be held fully accountable for the devastation they cause.”

“This defendant unleashed gunfire into a crowded Hamptons house party — wounding innocent people — and trafficked fentanyl that caused a fatal overdose and left others fighting for their lives,” stated HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Gizas.  “Today’s sentence reflects the severe consequences of Joshua Crowell’s violent and deadly conduct.  These crimes inflicted profound harm on victims, families, and the Long Island community.  HSI New York, standing alongside our law enforcement partners, will not allow violent gangs to turn Long Island neighborhoods into battlegrounds or marketplaces for lethal drugs.”

"Crowell's actions display a selfish, blatant disregard for the safety of others," stated Suffolk County Police Commissioner Catalina.  "He prioritized financial gain by peddling deadly drugs and prioritized gang status over the safety of dozens of individuals.  It is my hope this sentence sends a message to others who put their greed above the well-being of the public." 

“This Bloodhound Brims defendant along with another gang member and an associate indiscriminately fired with pistols and an assault rifle at partygoers in Southhampton. Amazingly, despite three people being hit, no one was killed.  This could easily have been a mass murder,” stated Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney.  “I thank our federal and local partners for working together to make sure that this defendant was held responsible for that violence, as well as the destruction wrought by the poison sold and multiple overdose deaths caused by this defendant.  Suffolk County has no place for those who would terrorize our communities.  Today’s sentence delivers accountability and sends a clear message that we will use every available tool to bring violent criminals to justice.”

As set forth in the government’s sentencing memorandum and other court filings, the defendant was an avowed member of the Bloodhound Brims set of the Bloods street gang who openly embraced and promoted his affiliation, including through social media posts.  In furtherance of the gang’s criminal activities, he engaged in acts of violence and sold lethal drugs.  In March 2021, Crowell, along with another member and an associate of the Bloods, traveled to a party hosted by rival gang members at a rental home in Southampton, New York.  Upon arrival, they unleashed a barrage of nearly 50 rounds into the residence using two pistols and an AK-47 style assault rifle.  Three partygoers were struck by gunfire and injured, though all ultimately survived.

Additionally, Crowell and several co-conspirators operated a drug trafficking network that for years sold fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.  His fentanyl sales had devastating consequences.  At least three individuals overdosed after purchasing fentanyl from Crowell, including one victim who died after using the deadly drug he supplied. 

The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. 

Secretary Mullin Visits Coast Guard Base Kodiak, Future Home to New Arctic Security Cutters

USCG Base Kodiak is the largest U.S. Coast Guard base in the world 

United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin toured U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Base Kodiak in Kodiak, Alaska. He was joined in his tour of the base by Admiral Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard, and Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska.

“It was an honor to be at Air Station Kodiak and meet many of the men and women of the Arctic District. The Arctic is a crucial region for securing our Homeland, and soon this base will see an influx of resources, including an Arctic Security Cutter, that will further protect our interests in this region,” said Secretary Mullin. “Under President Trump’s leadership, the Coast Guard is receiving the recognition and support it has long deserved. Thanks to President Trump and his One Big Beautiful Bill, we have invested $25 billion into the Coast Guard– the largest single investment in its history. Today, the Coast Guard is stronger than it’s ever been.”

Secretary Mullin speaks to Coast Guard personnel at an all-hands meeting at USCG Air Station Kodiak

Secretary Mullin began his tour of the base by speaking to an all-hands meeting of approximately 300 Coast Guard personnel at Air Station Kodiak. At the all-hands meeting, Secretary Mullin recognized several USCG personnel who were nominated by their supervisors for demonstrating exceptional performance.

Secretary Mullin, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, and Commandant Lunday tour a pier at USCG Base Kodiak

Secretary Mullin and Commandant Lunday tour the new USCG Nemetz Housing in Kodiak

Secretary Mullin and Commandant Lunday then toured a pier, followed by a tour of the new USCG Nemetz Housing.

Secretary Mullin participates in a Coast Guard rescue swimmer demonstration

Secretary Mullin then concluded his visit with an aerial tour and a demonstration of a Coast Guard rescue swimmer operation.

Earlier this week, Secretary Mullin toured a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cargo screening facility in Anchorage, Alaska, then met with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

11 Defendants Charged in Dismantling of Decade-Long Nationwide Marriage Fraud Scheme

 

A two-count indictment was unsealed charging 11 individuals with conspiring, over the course of more than a decade, to orchestrate more than 1,000 sham marriages to fraudulently obtain immigration status for foreign nationals, primarily citizens of the People’s Republic of China. Some individuals paid up to $100,000 per sham marriage, according to the indictment.

“This Department of Justice is rooting out fraud everywhere — including in our immigration system,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The individuals who were arrested today allegedly orchestrated elaborate schemes to illegally obtain citizenship for foreign nationals through sham marriages. Schemes like this are a deliberate affront to the United States and our laws and will not be tolerated under the Trump Administration.”

“The defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly operated a nationwide and international, multimillion-dollar marriage fraud scheme, using participants to abuse United States immigration laws for their own profit,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald for the Southern District of New York. “These arrests have dismantled a central component of one of the largest marriage fraud schemes charged in United States history.  As this prosecution shows, we and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue those seeking to corrupt and exploit our nation’s lawful immigration system.”

“Anyone willing to lie, cheat or steal their way to legal immigration status is a direct threat to America's national security,” said Director Joseph B. Edlow of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is aggressively pursuing marriage fraud schemes and the criminal organizations and ringleaders who profit from them. USCIS will continue to expose fraud, defend the rule of law, and ensure immigration status is reserved for those who truly qualify.”

“As alleged, this decade-long scheme turned marriage fraud into an international business model arranging countless sham marriages and causing hundreds of fraudulent Green Card applications to be submitted to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “Through the Homeland Security Task Force, HSI and our partners will continue to dismantle criminal networks that undermine the rule of law, exploit federal laws, and profit from fraud.”

The defendants are:

• Amy Cheng, also known as “Amy Zhou,” 72, of Brooklyn, New York;
• Xiao Mei Chan, also known as “Carmen;” 64, of Queens, New York;
• Christine Lu, also known as “Lily,” 52, of Queens;
• Jing Yan Ye, also known as “Serene,” 43, of Staten Island, New York;
• Xiao Yan Chen, also known as “Anna,” 48, of Brooklyn;
• Gang Zheng, also known as “Michael” and “Mike,” 61, of Queens;
• Anthony Cheng, 47, of Staten Island;
• Michelle Duenas, 35, of Staten Island; 
• Angela Duenas, 26, of Staten Island; 
• Sigrid Cetino, 32, of Peekskill, New York; and 
• Erika Johnson, 43, of Ossining, New York.

According to the indictment, from at least 2016 through July 2026, the defendants operated a nationwide and international marriage fraud network that arranged sham marriages between foreign nationals — primarily citizens of the People’s Republic of China — and United States citizens. Although based principally in New York City, the network allegedly arranged sham marriages throughout the United States and overseas including in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Vanuatu, and China. 

The network included facilitators who oversaw the scheme and identified foreign-national customers; recruiters who found willing United States citizens and helped ensure their continued participation; and assistants who prepared immigration paperwork and coordinated the submission of fraudulent lawful permanent residency (Green Card) applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The scheme also relied on marriage officiants, attorneys, tax preparers, insurance providers, and other service providers.  

Foreign nationals paid facilitators as much as approximately $100,000 for a sham marriage and assistance obtaining lawful permanent resident status. Facilitators, in turn, allegedly paid participating U.S. citizens up to about $30,000 — generally in installments tied to milestones in the Green Card application process — and paid recruiters commissions of as much as approximately $5,000 for each citizen recruited. In total, the defendants and their co-conspirators recruited hundreds of U.S. citizens to enter into sham marriages.

A foreign national (left), Anthony Cheng (center), and Erika Johnson (right) in a sham marriage ceremony on or about Jan. 15, 2025. From the indictment.

Sigrid Cetino (left), Anthony Cheng (center), and a foreign national (right) in a sham marriage ceremony on or about Dec. 17, 2024. From the indictment.

The defendants executed the fraud by pairing foreign nationals with U.S. citizens. The individuals would often meet for the first time immediately before obtaining a marriage license, arranging sham wedding ceremonies, and staging photographs designed to make those marriages appear legitimate. Some examples are below, including a photograph of a sham marriage that took place in China:

Photo from a sham wedding banquet, from the indictment.

A couple’s staged photo, from the indictment.

After the ceremonies, scheme participants manufactured evidence to make the marriages appear genuine, including by staging additional photographs, opening joint financial and utility accounts, filing joint tax returns, and obtaining insurance policies. The defendants and their co-conspirators then prepared and submitted Green Card applications containing materially false statements and, when interviews with USCIS were required, coached the marriage participants on how to conceal the true nature of their relationships and provide false answers to immigration officers. 

The defendants caused at least hundreds of fraudulent Green Card applications and supporting documents to be submitted to USCIS. Based on the scale and duration of the scheme, the defendants’ network is believed to have collected tens of millions of dollars from foreign nationals seeking lawful permanent resident status.

At the time the defendants were arrested, law enforcement executed premises search warrants at multiple locations in New York including Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and Flushing, Queens.

The defendants have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, which, if convicted, carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The defendants have also each been charged with one count of conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States, which, if convicted, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

HSI, Hudson Valley; the FBI, Safe Streets Task Force; the USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate; the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division; and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office are investigating this case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jake Sidransky and Reyhan Watson for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case.

An indictment merely contains accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.