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N/A.US
id: 1581
Southport EB-5 Investment Fraud and Immigration Scheme Case
Investors can submit applications for the lead plaintiff role.
W.D. Washington
Court2:25-cv-00754
Case number11/01/2013
Class period Start04/24/2025
Class period End06/24/2025
Lead Plaintiff motion deadline- Immigrant investors filed a claim against Min Zhang Christ and YMG Immigration Consulting for misusing $123 million in EB-5 funds tied to the Southport Office Project in Washington.
- After the Southport property was foreclosed and sold at auction without investor notice, investors were left with no rights or repayment.
Case Details:
Between 2013 and 2024, over 240 immigrant investors contributed at least $550,000 each to the Southport Office EB-5 Project, located in Renton, Washington, hoping to qualify for U.S. residency under the federal EB-5 visa program. They were told their funds would support job creation and be repaid in five years with interest.
The scheme was led by Min Zhang Christ and her husband Michael Christ, who created a web of shell companies to solicit investor capital, with help from YMG Immigration Consulting, a Hong Kong–based marketing firm. Zhang promised the project was fully financed and risk was low—but she secretly restructured the deal, removed key protections, and diverted investor funds.
By 2018, investors were unknowingly subordinated beneath a new $215 million senior loan, and the project was transferred to new entities fully controlled by Zhang. These changes were not disclosed to investors and stripped them of the right to recover their capital. Zhang and YMG received millions in undisclosed commissions despite lacking registration required under securities laws.
In 2023, the Southport property was foreclosed and auctioned without notifying investors, preventing them from asserting claims or securing liens. Investors, most of whom are Chinese nationals, now face the complete loss of their capital and immigration status.
Based on these events, EB-5 investors filed a claim against Min Zhang Christ, YMG, and related entities, accusing them of the following:
- It used shell entities and false marketing to solicit EB-5 funds under misleading terms.
- It concealed major project restructurings, diverted funds, and failed to disclose senior debt that put investor capital at risk.
Considering all the representations, investors believe the defendants orchestrated a complex immigration-linked fraud that wiped out over $123 million in investments.
Case Status
Lead Plaintiff Submission
Alleged Offence
Misleading Statements,
Fraud,
Omissions
Suspected Party
Directors,
Management
Security Type
Interest Rate
Trade Direction
Long
Shock Event Date
10/10/2023
Filing date
04/24/2025
Lead Plaintiff Deadline
06/24/2025