Federal prosecutors secured a conviction in a yearslong visa fraud case that far exceeded typical criminal case timelines.
Danhong “Jean” Chen was sentenced in January 2026 to 30 months in prison, bringing to a close a prosecution that began with a sealed indictment in March 2019 and spanned years of international flight, extradition, and court proceedings.
EB-5 Visa Fraud: How Complex Immigration Schemes Drive Years-Long Federal Investigations
The prosecution highlighted the complexity and duration of visa fraud cases tied to the EB-5 program, which has drawn increased scrutiny in recent years. Immigration offenses comprised 30% of federal sentencing in Fiscal Year 2024, according to the United States Sentencing Commission.
Prosecutors alleged Chen orchestrated a large-scale EB-5 visa fraud scheme involving more than $50 million in investor funds. The program allows foreign nationals to obtain lawful permanent residency in exchange for qualifying investments that create U.S. jobs.
A recent report detailed how EB-5-linked investments, including student housing developments, are being marketed as alternative pathways to U.S. residency, raising broader questions about oversight and enforcement, according to previous reporting by The Dallas Express.
Why the Chen Case Took Years: International Flight, Finance, and Extradition
Chen pleaded guilty in January to select charges, while others were dismissed on the government’s motion, according to court records. There was no public announcement from the Department of Justice at the time of the plea. The Dallas Express found the case while researching in the PACER, federal court system.
The timeline stands in contrast to broader federal trends. The median time from commencement to termination for criminal felony defendants was 8.3 months for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2025, according to federal court data.
In addition, 97% of federal criminal cases result in guilty pleas, according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s 2024 annual report.
Federal investigations, however, can significantly extend timelines, particularly in cases involving international elements, financial complexity, or fugitives.
According to a 2025 Justice Department press release, Chen fled the United States in October 2018, the same day the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint alleging fraud. Authorities said she traveled by train and bus to Canada before ultimately relocating to China, where she remained for more than five years.
“In 2018 Chen travelled by train and then bus across the border as the SEC filed a civil complaint alleging securities fraud. She left behind her former husband and their minor daughter and for more than five years did not return on her own volition,” Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen wrote in findings cited by prosecutors.
Court filings state Chen avoided jurisdictions where she risked arrest until traveling to the Kyrgyz Republic in April 2024, where she was detained on an Interpol notice and later extradited to the United States in 2025. The DOJ press release described the extradition as the first of its kind from that country on federal criminal charges.
Prosecutors argued throughout the case that Chen posed a significant flight risk, citing her access to financial resources and history of evading authorities.
“She has the financial means to flee and live indefinitely outside the reach of U.S. law enforcement, as shown by the fact that she did in fact live in China for five years while also continuing to transfer $30,000-$70,000 at a time to pay a mortgage and property tax on the Atherton house,” the government wrote.
The case also involved disputes over pretrial detention, with the government opposing her release and arguing that proposed bond conditions were insufficient.
Ultimately, Chen pleaded guilty to one count of visa fraud and two counts of obstruction of justice. She was sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and a $300 special assessment.