SEATTLE - THE owner of a Seattle area chain of Thai restaurants was charged with paying four workers to enter into sham marriages allowing three of her relatives and another Thai national to stay in the US.

Varee Bradford, who operates five Thai Ginger restaurants, was arrested on Tuesday on one count of immigration fraud conspiracy and three counts of immigration document fraud. She was released on her own recognisance on Tuesday afternoon at an appearance in US District Court.

A grand jury indictment says three workers were paid US$10,000 (S$14, 500) to more than US$20,000. Another, who had been promoted to management, was loaned US$3,780. The three men and one woman allegedly were told the marriages would only have to last two years, until their spouses received green cards.

A co-defendant was accused of helping to set up a fifth marriage between an undercover immigration agent and a Thai woman. He is in immigration custody and could face deportation.

A message left at Thai Ginger's office seeking comment from Bradford's attorney was not immediately returned.

The maximum potential prison term is 5 years on the conspiracy count and 10 years on each document fraud count. -- AP