Chinese Fraud Ring Breaches Navy Bases

A Chinese-run fraud ring didn’t just game the immigration system—it allegedly bought its way into U.S. Navy bases by turning sham marriages into military access.

Quick Take

Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging 11 people tied to a Florida-linked marriage fraud conspiracy targeting U.S. service members, largely Navy personnel.
Investigators say the scheme paired Chinese nationals with U.S. citizens in fake marriages for cash, while also pursuing Department of Defense Common Access Cards (CACs).
The case centers on activity tied to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, where conspirators allegedly sought unauthorized ID cards and base access.
Four Navy service members named in reporting have pleaded guilty; sentencing is still pending as remaining defendants face prosecution.

Indictment alleges a dual-track plot: green cards and CAC-enabled base access

Federal authorities say the conspiracy was not a typical marriage-fraud pipeline focused only on immigration paperwork. According to the indictment described by prosecutors and reporting, the alleged goal was twofold: secure immigration benefits for Chinese nationals and obtain DoD Common Access Cards that can open doors on U.S. military installations. That combination raises the stakes, because CACs are not just “IDs”—they can function as physical access credentials on bases.

Prosecutors allege organizers recruited U.S. citizens, “preferably armed forces members,” to marry Chinese nationals in exchange for cash. Reported payment structures included an upfront payment and additional money tied to immigration milestones, with totals described in coverage as reaching tens of thousands of dollars per participant. Those details matter because they show a deliberate incentive system designed to scale recruitment, not a one-off bad decision by a single couple.

How the scheme reportedly unfolded from 2024 to the 2026 announcement

Court-account-based reporting describes the operation beginning in 2024, with organizer Anny Chen allegedly recruiting a Navy reservist, Raymond Zumba, to marry a Chinese national. After that marriage, investigators say Chen paid cash and the network pushed forward to enlist additional military participants. By early 2025, the case turned when an active-duty Navy member reported being approached, then cooperated with law enforcement as a confidential informant to document recruitment efforts.

Authorities say the undercover cooperation culminated in February 2025 when Zumba and others traveled to Jacksonville, Florida—an area tied to Naval Air Station Jacksonville—attempting to obtain unauthorized military identification. Reporting states Zumba was arrested after receiving two ID cards in exchange for $3,500, an allegation that also points to bribery pressure placed on the personnel side of the process. Prosecutors publicly announced the unsealed indictment in early February 2026, moving the case into open court.

Service member involvement highlights a readiness and vetting problem

Reporting indicates four Navy service members—some former, at least one active during parts of the timeline—have pleaded guilty in connection with the scheme, with sentencing pending. Those pleas are significant because they establish that at least part of the alleged network did not simply “target” the military from the outside; it also relied on insiders willing to trade duty and trust for cash. That reality raises hard questions about deterrence, training, and accountability.

From a constitutional, limited-government perspective, the policy lesson is not to treat the public like suspects, but to secure the specific systems criminals exploit. When a CAC can unlock installation entry, the integrity of issuance procedures becomes a national security issue, not a paperwork issue. The facts in reporting also show why strong border and immigration enforcement remains inseparable from security: once fraud becomes a pathway to lawful status, it can also become a pathway to sensitive places.

What’s proven, what’s alleged, and what remains unclear

The core allegations are detailed: prosecutors describe a conspiracy to arrange sham marriages for immigration benefits and to obtain CACs through bribery, with activity spanning multiple states and centered operationally in Florida. The case also includes a documented law-enforcement response built on an informant’s report and undercover work, which strengthens the evidentiary foundation described in reporting. Still, broader claims about end-use—such as espionage intent—are not fully established in the public summaries.

Chinese criminal gang allegedly recruited Navy members for sham marriages and base access https://t.co/5zhDswBk83 #FoxNews

— James Harris (@RealJamesHarris) February 12, 2026

Even without speculation, the alleged conduct is serious on its face: illegal manipulation of immigration pathways and attempted corruption around a military access credential. With prosecutions ongoing, the next milestones will be court proceedings that test what prosecutors can prove beyond the indictment narrative. For Americans tired of years of lax enforcement and bureaucratic complacency, this case is a reminder that sovereignty, secure borders, and strict protection of military installations are not talking points—they are basic duties of government.