Thread: Twenty indicted in fake marriage, drug trafficking scheme

Twenty indicted in fake marriage, drug trafficking scheme

September 22, 2010 | 2:04 pm

Twenty people were indicted by federal authorities in a scheme in which foreigners allegedly used sham marriages to obtain green cards to further a drug dealing operation, authorities said Wednesday.

Dubbed Operation Paint it Black, the 19-count grand jury indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges crimes related to distribution of ecstasy, marijuana cultivation and a scheme in which foreign nationals paid tens of thousands of dollars to marry American women so they could obtain permanent U.S. residency.

The investigation targeted members and associates of a San Gabriel Valley-based street gang called the Red Door, according to the U.S. attorney's office. About 18 members of the gang were arrested Wednesday and agents are continuing their search for two others.

Named in the indictment were Kyle Carriere, 23, Henry Chen, 21, Sylvia Ho, 22, and Katrina Yu, 21, all of Rowland Heights; Tony Tuan Dam, 22, of Huntington Beach; Andy Lai, 28, of El Monte; Richie Le, 26, of Los Angeles; Lawrence Liu and Michael Chen, both 22 of Diamond Bar; Nathan Nwobi, 36, of Culver City; Brian Ly, 22, and Seong Chun Tan, 32; both of Alhambra; Edward Su, 22, of San Gabriel; Jun Paz, 25, of West Covina; Steven Settino Siino, 22, of San Dimas; Allen Chen, 26, of Arcadia; Jane Kim, 23, of Yorba Linda; Chun Chih Hu, 29, who resides in unincorporated Los Angeles County; Angela Kim, 22, of Los Angeles; and Feng Ye, 38, of Flushing, New York.

During the course of the two-year investigation, authorities seized seven firearms, more than 12,500 ecstasy pills, 2,230 marijuana plants and a Lamborghini.

-- Andrew Blankstein

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News Release
September 22, 2010
Public Affairs
Number: 213-621-6827

20 Arrested in DEA Investigation Linked to Asian Gangs in
Drug Trafficking and Sham Marriage Conspiracy

SEP 22 - LOS ANGELES – (September 22, 2010 ) A Drug Enforcement Administration led task force this morning arrested 18 defendants named in a federal grand jury indictment that alleges narcotics trafficking and fake marriages to obtain “green cardsâ€