Nevada 'Runaway Bride' Jiaying Chen Sentenced for Bigamy and Fraud Scheme Tied to Gambling Addiction

A Las Vegas woman, Jiaying Chen, 33, has been ordered to repay over $280,000 to victims after pleading guilty to bigamy and obtaining money under false pretenses in a scheme involving multiple marriages to fund a gambling habit. Court records and reporting confirm Chen submitted 14 marriage license applications in Clark County between 2019 and 2024, resulting in seven marriages. Prosecutors described her as the 'quintessential runaway bride,' noting she met men online, married quickly, and solicited funds—often claiming needs for sick relatives in China—before disappearing. Investigators determined the proceeds supported losses exceeding $300,000 at the Wynn Las Vegas casino in one year, not overseas family support. At sentencing on October 6, 2026, Clark County District Judge Crystal Eller imposed a suspended 8-20 year prison term, nearly one year in jail (with credit for time served), two years of supervised probation including Gamblers Anonymous and counseling, and restitution of $280,062.86 to nine victims whose claims ranged from about $8,100 to $81,000. Chen, a lawful permanent resident, received permission to relocate to Florida for a waitressing job. The case underscores how Nevada's accessible marriage laws can be exploited, with Chen allegedly using aliases like Vicky Liang and fake IDs after an initial 2024 arrest. Multiple outlets, including local court coverage, corroborate the facts from police reports and hearings.