What looked like a string of whirlwind Vegas romances has turned into a criminal case, after police say a 33-year-old woman worked a years-long “husband hustle” that left several men out tens of thousands of dollars.
Investigators allege the Las Vegas resident married multiple men over several years, using aliases, forged documents and seemingly legit wedding paperwork to build trust. Once the rings were on, police say, she pivoted to requests for cash, checks or savings. Officers moved in and arrested her after a surveillance operation at a restaurant in the Las Vegas valley.
Police identified the suspect as Jiaying Chen, 33, who they say also went by the name Vicky Liang. She was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on suspicion of bigamy, theft of more than $25,000 and forgery. Homeland Security investigators teamed up with Las Vegas Metro officers on the surveillance that led to her arrest, as reported by the Las Vegas Review‑Journal. Prosecutors said the investigation turned up multiple recent weddings in the valley.
National pattern and local alarm
Federal officials have been cracking down in recent years on organized marriage‑fraud rings, targeting schemes where conspirators recruit Americans into sham marriages for immigration or financial gain. Coverage by CBS News and federal court filings outline that broader pattern, which local investigators say helped frame how they approached the Las Vegas case.
Alleged victims and method
Clark County marriage‑license records show Chen submitted 14 applications between March 11, 2019 and May 27, 2024. According to police, multiple men later came forward to report losing large sums of money after marrying her.
One alleged victim told investigators he lost $40,000 in a check‑cashing scheme. Others reported handing over $40,000 to help a sick relative in China, $30,000 that was supposed to be saved for a house, or being hit up for $23,000 almost immediately after a wedding, according to the Las Vegas Review‑Journal. Officers also say Chen had a fraudulent passport and a fake Nevada driver’s license on her when she was taken into custody.
Legal status and past records
Chen was arrested on suspicion of bigamy, theft and forgery. Prosecutors said she married five times in 2026 and that she had been charged previously in August 2024 with bigamy and alleged theft of more than $100,000, according to court records. The case remains under investigation, and prosecutors have not yet said whether they will seek indictments related to the June arrest.
Metro and federal investigators have not released additional public comment. Clark County booking records show Chen remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center as the probe continues.
