ICE investigation leads to child molester’s conviction for naturalization fraud

RALEIGH, N.C. – United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations 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. Additionally, he was criminally denaturalized by the court.

According to court documents, on May 9, 2017, Davis fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship by making false statements under oath regarding his naturalization application. In response to the question “Have you ever committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?” he answered “No.” He likewise denied having ever forced anyone to have any kind of sexual contact or sexual relations.

On Feb. 2, 2024, Davis was convicted in state court of indecent liberties with a child and attempted first-degree sexual offense. He confessed to having committed the crimes between Jan.30, 2004 and Dec. 30, 2005. The victim was a 5-year-old girl. Davis was sentenced to over 16 years of imprisonment, in part because of a previous federal conviction in 2021 for possessing child pornography which resulted in a 14-year prison sentence.

“This case highlights ERO’s commitment to protecting communities we serve, and I am proud of the work we do every day,” said ERO Atlanta Field Office Director LaDeon Francis. “It also highlights our resolve. For those who prey upon the vulnerable and lie about their crimes, there is nowhere they can hide. ERO will relentlessly defend the integrity of our nation’s naturalization process.”

Officers with ICE’s ERO division and Homeland Security Investigations agents assigned to the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force investigated the case as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing initiative designed to aggressively identify and prosecute child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship.

For more news and information on how ERO Atlanta carries out its immigration enforcement mission in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, follow us on Twitter @EROAtlanta.