A Las Vegas resident has been charged with running a prolonged marriage fraud operation that allegedly involved at least 14 different men. Jiaying Chen, age 33, has agreed to enter guilty pleas for two felony charges: one for bigamy and another for acquiring over $100,000 through deceitful practices.

In a court session at the Las Vegas Justice Court on Tuesday, Chen indicated her intent to plead guilty later this week.

She was initially arrested in 2024, facing accusations of repetitively applying for marriage licenses using various identities. Through these fraudulent relationships, she solicited considerable funds from men she encountered on social media. After being released on bail, she failed to return for a scheduled court appearance and subsequently vanished.

Between March 2019 and May 2024, investigators revealed that Chen submitted 14 applications for marriage licenses to the Clark County Marriage License Bureau, successfully acquiring seven marriage certificates.

Her Liang Eyes

Officials assert that the alleged scam adhered to a predictable pattern. Men reported to investigators that they came across Chen via social media platforms. Their relationships progressed rapidly, with Chen often proposing marriage shortly after they met. Following the marriage ceremonies, she began requesting substantial amounts of money for purported medical emergencies concerning her relatives in China. Several victims recounted that once they transferred funds, Chen would cease communication.

One individual reported that he provided Chen with $40,000, while others indicated losses of $30,000, $23,000, and $20,000.

Investigators believe Chen squandered over $300,000 at Wynn Las Vegas within a year, indicating that the funds obtained through her fraudulent activities were likely used to support her gambling habits rather than any legitimate medical crises abroad.

Last month, authorities rediscovered Chen still residing in Las Vegas and arrested her under the alias “Vicky Liang.” Reports indicate she had applied for an additional eight marriage licenses under this name, obtaining seven more certificates. During her arrest, officers uncovered a forged passport and a fake Nevada driver’s license.

Chen is slated for sentencing following her anticipated guilty plea later this week.