A Nevada woman has admitted to running an alleged marriage fraud scheme that prosecutors say helped finance her gambling addiction. Authorities accuse the 33-year-old of marrying multiple men in Las Vegas, collecting thousands of dollars from them under false pretenses, and then using much of the money to gamble at casinos.
The case has drawn attention because of its unusual combination of alleged marriage fraud, identity forgery, and gambling-related financial crimes. Prosecutors say the woman now faces a potential prison sentence of up to 24 years after agreeing to plead guilty to some of the charges.
What are prosecutors alleging?
According to court records, 33-year-old Jiaying Chen allegedly married multiple men over several years as part of a scheme to obtain money through deception.
Authorities say Chen:
- Married five men between April and June 2026.
- Submitted 15 marriage license applications in Clark County between March 2019 and May 2024.
- Was issued eight marriage certificates.
- Was previously arrested on bigamy-related charges in 2024.
Prosecutors allege she used the marriages to obtain money before cutting off contact with the victims.
How did the alleged scheme work?
Investigators say Chen met prospective husbands through social media before persuading them to marry her in Las Vegas.
According to police, she allegedly:
- Used an alias, “Vicky Liang.”
- Forged a Nevada driver’s license and a U.S. passport.
- Filed marriage applications using false information.
- Asked spouses for money by claiming she had relatives facing medical emergencies.
Authorities allege that instead of using the funds for family emergencies, Chen spent much of the money gambling at Las Vegas casinos.
Chen reportedly told investigators that not every marriage application resulted in a wedding because some men refused to pay.
How much money was allegedly involved?
Court documents allege that Chen obtained approximately $138,000 from at least three victims.
Investigators also claim she admitted that one marriage could generate as much as $20,000.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, casino records cited by investigators indicate she lost approximately $300,000 gambling at the Wynn Las Vegas over the past year.
Authorities have not publicly explained where the remaining gambling funds originated.
Why Las Vegas?
According to investigators, Chen told police she chose Las Vegas because obtaining a marriage license there was relatively straightforward.
Clark County is one of the busiest marriage destinations in the United States, issuing tens of thousands of marriage licenses annually to residents and visitors alike.
Prosecutors allege Chen believed the city’s marriage process made it easier to carry out the scheme while remaining close to the casinos where she gambled.
What charges did she face?
Chen was originally charged with several felony offenses, including:
- Six counts of bigamy.
- Two counts of forgery.
- Theft-related charges.
- Obtaining money under false pretenses.
She has since agreed to plead guilty to:
- One count of bigamy.
- One count of obtaining money under false pretenses.
The plea agreement could reduce her overall legal exposure, although sentencing remains at the discretion of the court.
What sentence could she receive?
According to court records, Chen faces a maximum possible sentence of 24 years in prison.
The actual sentence will be determined during future court proceedings after the judge considers the plea agreement and other relevant factors.
Why this case stands out
Marriage fraud cases often involve immigration or financial scams, but prosecutors say this case is unusual because it allegedly combined multiple fraudulent marriages with identity forgery and a gambling addiction.
Authorities also allege the scheme continued despite Chen’s previous arrest on similar allegations in 2024.
The case highlights how marriage fraud investigations can involve multiple criminal offenses, including forgery, theft, and financial fraud, beyond allegations of unlawful marriage alone.
Key takeaways
- Nevada prosecutors allege Jiaying Chen married multiple men to obtain money for gambling.
- Investigators say she used forged identification and the alias “Vicky Liang.”
- Authorities allege she obtained approximately $138,000 from at least three victims.
- Chen has agreed to plead guilty to one count of bigamy and one count of obtaining money under false pretenses.
- She faces a maximum possible prison sentence of 24 years, though sentencing has not yet occurred.