Las Vegas Woman Convicted of Bigamy with 14 Husbands to Fund Gambling Addiction

A Las Vegas court convicted 34-year-old Jia-Ying Chen on charges of bigamy, fraud, and obtaining property under false pretenses after it was revealed she married no fewer than 14 husbands, including five in a single month, to fund her casino gambling addiction. Chen was convicted as part of a plea deal after pleading guilty, receiving probation that requires her to attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings, undergo gambling addiction treatment, pay $280,000 in restitution, and wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.

Scheme and Casino Losses

According to the prosecution, Chen used a fake ID under the name "Vicky Liang" for seven years to convince her husbands to transfer over $100,000 in total, claiming she urgently needed funds to help sick relatives in China. She met the men on social media, and several partners reported she convinced them to marry her after knowing them for only a few months. Chen used the money to gamble at the luxury Wynn casino on the Las Vegas Strip, where she lost over $300,000 in the past year alone. Once she received the money, she would cut off all contact. She told investigators she could make up to $20,000 from each marriage and chose Las Vegas due to the ease of getting married there. Deputy Chief District Attorney Austin Beaumont stated that Chen is a prime example of a runaway bride.

Arrest and Victim Testimony

Chen, born in China and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was previously arrested in 2024, posted bail, fled, and resumed her fraudulent schemes. Police arrested her again in June, finding a fake passport and a fake Nevada driver's license alongside the fake ID. During the sentencing hearing, Raymond Tam, one of the 14 victim husbands, testified wearing a mask and sunglasses. He stated her actions devastated his family, leaving him unable to pay factory workers and indebted to friends.

Mentally, I am in distress every day and unable to sleep, Tam declared in court.

Judge placed the first year of her probation to be served at the Clark County detention center, with credit for 125 days already served, aiming to show her what life in prison looks like if she reoffends.