Charges Filed Against Navy Service Members
Two U.S. Navy service members are under federal investigation in Florida, accused of participating in fraudulent marriages with Chinese nationals seeking green cards.
In documents submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida on December 23, prosecutors claim that between September 2024 and February 2025, Jacinth Bailey and Morgan Chambers collaborated with others to engage in marriage fraud benefiting Chinese individuals.
The unnamed Chinese nationals aimed to obtain green or lawful permanent resident cards by marrying Ms. Bailey and Ms. Chambers. Reports indicate that other conspirators offered Ms. Chambers $35,000 and Ms. Bailey $45,000 to take part in this scheme.
While the identities of other conspirators remain undisclosed, their actions align with those of Navy reservist Raymond Zumba and veteran Brinio Urena, who were arrested last year and pleaded guilty to related charges.
The information against Urena reveals that he recruited a Navy sailor into the scheme on September 13, 2024, coinciding with the timeline concerning Ms. Chambers. The same document details Urena introducing Ms. Chambers to Zumba, who allegedly promised her $35,000.
All three cases—those against Ms. Chambers as well as Zumba and Urena—mention a trip to Las Vegas on October 4, 2024. It is alleged that Ms. Chambers traveled there to marry for $10,000 while Urena accompanied her along with Zumba.
Additions in the filing against Zumba correspond with allegations made against Ms. Bailey. Prosecutors noted that Urena introduced another conspirator to Zumba in November 2024, which aligns with claims made about Ms. Bailey’s involvement.
The filings also reference travel plans to New York and a wedding in Connecticut involving Zumba and Ms. Bailey respectively. They describe unnamed conspirators requesting that Ms. Bailey obtain a military identification card for her Chinese spouse so he could access military facilities.
As of now, neither Ms. Bailey nor Ms. Chambers has entered a plea regarding the marriage fraud charges they face.
