Woman Accused of Marrying Multiple Men to Obtain Thousands of Dollars in Fraud Scheme

A 33-year-old woman has been arrested in Las Vegas on multiple felony charges, including bigamy, following allegations that she married several men under false pretences in a bid to defraud them of substantial sums of money. Jiaying Chen, who is also known by the alias Vicky Liang, was taken into custody at a restaurant on June 4, after an investigation revealed her involvement in several marriage fraud schemes.

According to police reports, Chen’s alleged fraudulent activities came to light when men she had been involved with began to express suspicions about her behaviour. Investigators found that she had reportedly married five men within a span of just a few months this year, and had obtained a total of 14 marriage certificates using both her real name and her alias since 2019. The Clark County Marriage Bureau subsequently alerted authorities, prompting a detailed investigation.

Detectives indicated that Chen often fabricated stories to manipulate her partners into providing financial assistance for supposed family emergencies in China. “After a short time, Chen would suggest they get married,” police noted. These fabricated tales often included ailments afflicting her family members, leading her alleged victims to provide her with substantial financial aid. Once she had received the money, Chen purportedly cut off all communication with them.

One man reported to law enforcement that he had given Chen $40,000 to help with what she claimed was a serious illness affecting her family member. Another individual stated that Chen had solicited $23,000 from him, only to later declare she had no desire to remain married to him. Such narratives were typical of her reported interactions, as further investigation revealed that she was exploiting the affections of those she married for financial gain.

Additional victims came forward to share their experiences. In one case, a woman accused Chen of swindling her out of $40,000 through a check-cashing scheme, claiming Chen had issued bad cheques from a man’s account she had married. This pattern of deceit exemplifies the extent of Chen’s alleged fraudulent activities.

Following her arrest, Clark County prosecutors filed five felony charges of bigamy and two counts of intent to utter a fictitious bill, note, or cheque against her. Initially facing charges of forgery and theft amounting between £25,000 and £100,000, these were later dropped. Court records indicate she did not appear for her initial hearing set for August.

Under surveillance by Metro officers and Homeland Security investigators, Chen was apprehended whilst attempting to meet a man to discuss marriage. Officers discovered a number of fraudulent identification documents in her possession at the time of her arrest, including a counterfeit passport and a fake Nevada driver’s licence.

Currently, Chen is being held at the Clark County Detention Centre with a bail set at £100,000. She is slated to return to Las Vegas Justice Court on June 29 for a preliminary hearing related to her charges.

The unfolding case has drawn attention to the issue of marriage fraud and the lengths individuals may go to exploit trust for financial benefit. As investigations continue, authorities are urging anyone who may have been affected by Chen’s alleged actions to come forward and assist in establishing a complete account of her activities. While Las Vegas remains a city known for its vibrant entertainment scene, incidents like this serve as a reminder of the darker aspects of human relationships and trust.