Document and Benefit Fraud

ICE ERO officers in the Raleigh office initiated an investigation that led to Robert Davis, a previously naturalized United States citizen born in Malaysia, being convicted of naturalization fraud and sentenced to six months in prison.

Orlando Chavez, 43, a naturalized citizen of the United States born in Cuba and convicted child molester, was found guilty of naturalization fraud and using a fraudulently obtained naturalization certificate.

Dorian Velasquez, 43, pleaded guilty to having unlawfully obtained his U.S. citizenship and faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and automatic revocation of his citizenship.

Dilrabo Obidova, 36, was sentenced to a time-served sentence reflecting the time Obidova was detained pending trial and ordered immediate deportation to Uzbekistan with no option to apply for asylum or any other immigration relief.

If convicted, Gary Dale Thrasher, 56, faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on the bank fraud counts, a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment for the passport fraud offenses, and a two-year minimum mandatory term of imprisonment for aggravated identity theft.  

On March 20, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Robert Davis, a 67-year-old naturalized citizen of the United States, born in Malaysia, with naturalization fraud.

ERO designed and launched Operation False Haven in late 2019 to identify and target child sexual abusers and other egregious felons who were convicted after naturalizing for offenses they committed and concealed during the naturalization process.

Nora Nely Avila, 35, pleaded guilty Jan. 3 after she fraudulently presented a nursing license.

Engilbert Ulan, 42, a Philippine national residing in Los Angeles, was convicted of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration document fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for March 6, 2024.

Sinisa Djurdjic, 50, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was found guilty by a jury on May 19 after a nine-day trial.