CNN Philippines — Six Filipinos are facing charges in connection with the large-scale operations of an alleged marriage and immigration fraud agency in the United States, according to officials.

In a statement on Thursday (Friday in Manila), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that the Filipino nationals were among the 11 people indicted over their ties to the Los Angeles-based agency which supposedly arranged sham marriages between U.S. citizens and foreign clients “for the primary purpose of circumventing immigration laws.”

The Filipinos, all based in Los Angeles, California, were identified as:

— Marcialito Biol Benitez, 48

— Engilbert Ulan, 39

— Nino Reyes Valmeo, 45

— Harold Poquita, 30

— Juanita Pacson, 45

— Felipe Capindo David, 49

Benitez allegedly operated the agency out of brick-and-mortar offices in Los Angeles, where he employed his co-conspirators as staff.

Others charged for the scheme were four U.S. citizens and a Brazilian national.

According to the indictment, Benitez operated what he and others referred to as an “agency” that arranged hundreds of sham marriages “then allegedly prepared and submitted false petitions, applications and other documents to substantiate the sham marriages and secure adjustment of clients’ immigration statuses for a fee of between $20,000 and $30,000 in cash.”

Federal officials warned that marriage fraud remains a “serious crime.”

“We believe their alleged scheme broke immigration laws that are in place to protect public safety and created a disadvantage for those seeking to earn their citizenship lawfully,” read the U.S. DOJ’s statement, citing the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“This case should serve as a warning to others that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are united in our efforts to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises that seek to circumvent our laws by fraudulent means,” it also said.