Melinda Tran pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge that carries up to five years in prison and agreed to cooperate with authorities and testify against others charged with participating in the sham marriage ring.

Among those charged are Tran's mother Lee Thi Tran and Andy Cuong Nguyen, also known as Phillip Lam, a California man accused of handing out $6,000 each to Melinda Tran and others who entered sham marriages with Chinese nationals.

Federal Magistrate Judge Leslie Kobayashi scheduled Melinda Tran's sentencing for Jan. 25 before U. S. District Judge Helen Gillmor.