San Jose Immigration Lawyer Extradited to Face Large-Scale EB-5 Visa Fraud Charges

Published Nov. 6, 2026. Case status is current as of that date.

EB-5 investor visas are supposed to rest on real, qualifying U.S. investments—not paperwork schemes. On March 7, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California announced that San Jose-area immigration lawyer Danhong “Jean” Chen (also known as Maria Sofia Taylor), 60, formerly of Atherton, Calif., was extradited from the Kyrgyz Republic to face a March 2019 federal indictment alleging large-scale visa fraud [1].

Status: Extradited to face a 14-count indictment with business partner and ex-spouse Jianyun “Tony” Ye. Ye pleaded guilty in 2021 to visa fraud and obstruction and was sentenced to 12 months. An indictment is only an allegation as to Chen. Chen is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty [1].

What the indictment alleges

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office [1]:

1. Chen and Ye allegedly committed visa fraud and related crimes to obtain immigration benefits for more than 100 foreign investors through the employment-based fifth preference (EB-5) program.
2. Chen’s extradition was described as the first from the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States on federal criminal charges.

The person charged

Danhong “Jean” Chen (a.k.a. Maria Sofia Taylor), 60. Immigration lawyer formerly of Atherton, Calif. Extradited March 2025 to face 2019 indictment; presumed innocent [1].

Case status (as of Nov. 6, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status	Source
Danhong “Jean” Chen (a.k.a. Maria Sofia Taylor), 60	U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal.	Indicted March 2019 (14 counts); extradited from Kyrgyz Republic March 7, 2025; presumed innocent	[1]

Statuses can change. Charges are allegations.

Sources

1. U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, “San Jose Immigration Lawyer Extradited From The Kyrgyz Republic To Face Charges Of Large-Scale Visa Fraud,” March 7, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/san-jose-immigration-lawyer-extradited-kyrgyz-republic-face-charges-large-scale-visa