Chinese fugitive Chao ‘Edwin’ Chen sentenced in US birth tourism scheme
- Authorities say Chen was among more than a dozen people charged with running scheme in California
- Chen pleaded guilty in 2016 to visa fraud, marriage fraud and filing a false tax return but then fled to China
A fugitive who pleaded guilty to a visa fraud scheme in which Chinese women gave birth in California so their children would be US citizens has been formally sentenced.
Chao “Edwin” Chen, who is now in China, was sentenced Tuesday to more than three years by a federal judge, according to the US attorney’s office.
Prosecutors say Chen, 35, was among more than a dozen people charged with operating a company that helped wealthy Chinese citizens and even government officials come to the United States so their children would receive birthright citizenship.
The indictment said they used 20 flats in Irvine to house pregnant clients, who were charged up to US$80,000 each.
Clients were coached on how to lie on visa applications, hide their pregnancies during customs checks and pass US consulate interviews in China, prosecutors said.
Chen’s company, You Win USA, promoted the benefits of giving birth in the United States rather than in China, including free education for the child from grade through high school, less pollution, easier immigration for the family and “priority for jobs in US government, public companies, and large corporations”, according to the US attorney.
Chen acknowledged serving at least 60 customers. He also acknowledged paying a woman US$25,000 to marry him so he could obtain a green card, prosecutors said.