Immigration and Naturalization Fraud Prosecutions
To report crimes,
call (866) DHS-2-ICE.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement finds, prosecutes and removes convicted felons who lie on immigration forms.
Prosecuting and Removing Those Who Commit Immigration Fraud
Everyone who applies for naturalization must truthfully answer a series of questions to show that they have the good moral character required to become a U.S. citizen. Some of the questions include:
- “Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?”
- “Have you ever been involved in any way with forcing, or trying to force, someone to have any kind of sexual contact or sexual relations?”
- “Have you ever sold or smuggled controlled substances, illegal drugs or narcotics?”
When people lie on their immigration forms, ICE uses its authorities to find, prosecute and remove them.
How it Works
ICE uses digital tools — including databases shared by other federal agencies — to identify people who committed crimes before (or during) naturalization and were convicted after naturalization. When officers find cases like these, it often means that the person lied on their immigration forms.
Say a person committed a crime in 2020 and wasn’t caught. They became a naturalized citizen in 2021, and they were tried for and convicted of the 2020 crime in 2025. This person lied when answering the question “Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?” They had committed a crime, and they were only convicted after they were awarded American citizenship.
Citizenship Fraud
Fraudulently obtaining citizenship is a serious felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. A conviction also results in automatic revocation of citizenship, and ICE removes these people whenever possible.
ICE works with its partners from:
- U.S. attorneys’ offices.
- ICE attorneys from the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor’s Denaturalization Program.
- The Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration Litigation.
- ICE’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate.
- The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.
- The FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division.
Immigration Fraud: Successful Prosecutions and Removals
This initiative has successfully produced criminal and civil cases against defendants convicted of:
- Aggravated identity theft.
- Child molestation.
- Elder abuse.
- Embezzlement.
- Incest.
- Kidnapping.
- Money laundering.
- Murder.
- Narcotics trafficking.
- Pill mill prescription fraud.
- Possession or production of child sexual abuse material.
- Serial rape.
- Sex trafficking.
- Sodomy.
- Tax fraud.
Saul David Aquino fraudulently naturalized on Aug. 26, 2009, and later used his naturalization certificate to apply for a U.S. passport. On June 8, 2015, he was convicted in state court of two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child after he confessed to repeatedly molesting his 13-year-old biological daughter between 2007 and 2009. He was sentenced to 32 months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On March 15, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, he was convicted of passport fraud, was denaturalized and ordered removed from the United States. On Aug. 15, 2021, he was removed from the United States to Argentina.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case nos. 5:20-cr-00041-FL and 5:20-cv-00277-FL. Read More
Gaetan Joseph Helard Lecompte fraudulently naturalized on October 29, 2009. On August 1, 2011, in state court, he pleaded guilty to 52 felony offenses, including statutory rape, first degree sex offense with a child, indecent liberties with a child, and dissemination of obscene materials to a minor, after he confessed to repeatedly raping and molesting five children between 1991 and 2005. He was sentenced to a life term of imprisonment.
On December 20, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, his citizenship was revoked following a finding by the court that he obtained it fraudulently by concealing his numerous sexual offenses when he applied for naturalization.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 1:23-cv-0693. Read More
Antonio Paz fraudulently naturalized on Nov. 15, 2013. On Feb. 24, 2014, he pleaded guilty in a state court to six counts of felony embezzlement after he confessed to stealing over $75,000 in 2006 from senior citizens residing at a retirement community where he was employed as the director.
On June 8, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, he was convicted of naturalization fraud and his citizenship was revoked.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 5:20-cr-00299-1D(3). Read More
Zaw Lin Lay fraudulently naturalized on Feb. 17, 2017. On July 17, 2018, he pleaded guilty in state court to one count of kidnapping and six counts of taking indecent liberties with a child after confessing to repeatedly molesting his 13-year-old biological daughter from October 2016 through February 2017. He was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On Aug. 25, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, he was convicted of naturalization fraud and his citizenship was revoked.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 4:20-cr-00028-1BO(4). Read More
Mario Sotelo fraudulently naturalized on Aug. 25, 2008, and later used his naturalization certificate to apply for a U.S. passport. On Aug. 23, 2018, in state court, he pleaded guilty to one count of incest, one count of first-degree sex offense with a child, seven counts of statutory rape and seven counts of indecent liberties with a child after confessing to repeatedly raping his 13-year-old biological daughter and another child from 2003 through 2015. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On Aug. 31, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, he was convicted of passport fraud, denaturalized and ordered removed from the United States once his prison sentence is complete.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case nos. 5:20-cr-00173-M(1) and 5:21-cv-000284-M. Read More
Simbala Gory fraudulently naturalized on July 26, 2016. On Sept. 28, 2020, in state court, he pleaded guilty to committing a sex offense while in a parental role after he confessed to raping his 16-year-old stepdaughter in 2009 which resulted in the birth of a child. He was sentenced to 84 months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On Sept. 20, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, he was convicted of naturalization fraud and his citizenship was revoked.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 5:20-cr-00503-1M(1). Read More
Ruben Rosas-Avalos fraudulently naturalized on February 23, 2016. On March 28, 2019, in state court, he pleaded guilty to statutory rape of a child and taking indecent liberties with a child after he confessed to raping and sexually molesting multiple children at an unlicensed daycare center between 2015 and 2017. He was sentenced to over 26 years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On Nov. 17, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, he was convicted of naturalization fraud and his citizenship was revoked.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 1:21-cr-00062-1. Read More
Umesh Chandra Puri fraudulently naturalized on Aug 20, 2010. On Nov. 2, 2015, in state court, he pleaded guilty to continuous sexual abuse of a child, lewd act upon a child, sexual penetration by foreign object of a minor, and possession of child pornography after he confessed to sexually molesting his biological daughter from 2005 through 2015. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender. After completing his prison sentence, he used his fraudulently obtained naturalization certificate to apply for a driver’s license.
On Dec. 21, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, he was convicted of using a fraudulently obtained naturalization certificate, his citizenship was revoked, and he was ordered to depart the United States. On Jan. 27, 2022, he was removed to Nepal.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case nos. 1:21-cr-00317 and 1:21-cv-959.
Edgar Daniel Cruz-Magallanes fraudulently naturalized on March 19, 2015. On June 10, 2020, in state court, he pleaded guilty to three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child after he confessed to sexually molesting an 8-year-old victim multiple times between 2010 and 2012. He was sentenced to 29 months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On Jan 13, 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, he was convicted of naturalization fraud. His citizenship was revoked and he was judicially ordered removed from the United States.
On Feb. 7, 2022, after completing his prison sentence, he was removed to Mexico.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 5:20-cr-00368-1FL(3). Read More
Billy Efrain Penaranda fraudulently naturalized on Aug. 31, 2009, and later used his naturalization certificate to obtain a driver’s license. On Nov. 14, 2012, he pleaded guilty in state court to taking indecent liberties with a child after he confessed to photographing and sexually molesting a 12-year-old victim between 2008 and 2009. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On March 11, 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, he was convicted of using a fraudulently obtained naturalization certificate and his citizenship was revoked.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 5:20-cr-00368-1FL(3). Read More
J. Refugio Gomez-Juarez fraudulently naturalized on Sept. 17, 2010. On March 1, 2016, in state court, he pleaded guilty to second degree forcible rape after he confessed to raping his 8-year-old mentally disabled stepdaughter in January 2007. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender classified as a violent predator.
On March 25, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, he was convicted of naturalization fraud. His citizenship was revoked and he was judicially ordered removed from the United States.
On April 27, 2022, after completing his prison sentence, he was immediately removed to Mexico.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 5:20-cr-00345-BO. Read More
Vyacheslav Fyodorovich Rizhkov
Vyacheslav Fyodorovich Rizhkov fraudulently naturalized on Sept. 17, 2019. On March 6, 2020, in state court, he pleaded guilty to two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and one count of sexual battery of a physically helpless person after he confessed to sexually molesting three of his biological children, one of whom was disabled, over a period of years beginning in 2017. He was sentenced to 29 months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On July 14, 2022, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, he was convicted of naturalization fraud and his citizenship was revoked.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 1:21-cr-00128-1. Read More
Herbet Leonel Diaz fraudulently naturalized on Oct. 20, 2011. On March 19, 2014, in state court, he pleaded guilty to five counts of lewd act with a child after he confessed to raping and sexually molesting his 6-year-old niece from 2003 through 2006. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On Feb. 1, 2023, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, he was convicted of naturalization fraud and his citizenship was revoked.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 3:21-cr-00184-KDB. Read More
Armando Marinero-Garcia attempted to unlawfully obtain U.S. citizenship on June 1, 2018, by submitting a fraudulent application, but was unable to do so because on the day of his scheduled naturalization interview, he was in jail. On June 14, 2022, he pleaded guilty in state court to four counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and one count of crime against nature after he confessed to sexually molesting a 13-year-old girl and her dog repeatedly between 2016 and 2018. He was sentenced to over 8 years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On April 6, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, he was convicted of attempted naturalization fraud.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 5:22-cr-00252-1BO-RN. Read More
Cruz Miguel Aguina fraudulently naturalized on July 3, 2019. On June 16, 2022, in state court, he pleaded guilty to statutory rape of a child after he confessed to repeatedly raping and molesting his 15-year-old biological daughter between Jan. 1, 2019, and Dec. 30, 2019. He was sentenced to 29 years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On April 6, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, he was convicted of naturalization fraud and his citizenship was revoked.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case nos. 5:22-cr-00253-1BO-RJ. Read More
Raul Rebollar fraudulently naturalized on July 29, 2014. On Dec. 7, 2015, in federal court, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to 63 months in prison and ordered to forfeit multiple firearms seized by law enforcement. On May 24, 2022, after completing his prison sentence, he was arrested by law enforcement with multiple kilos of cocaine and subsequently convicted in state court for narcotics trafficking. He was sentenced to 37 months of prison.
On June 23, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, he was convicted of naturalization fraud and his citizenship was revoked.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 5:21-cr-00091-D-1.
Gregory Maxwell Palmer fraudulently naturalized on Oct. 20, 2011. On June 6, 2013, in state court, he pleaded guilty to attempted statutory rape of a child after he confessed to committing the crime in 2008 by taking advantage of a position of trust with the 13-year-old victim. He was sentenced to over 16 years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On July 25, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, he was convicted of naturalization fraud and his citizenship was revoked.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 3:21-cr-00234-FDW-SCR-1. Read More
Kheungkham Vongphakdy fraudulently naturalized on Oct. 20, 2011. On April 4, 2014, in state court, he pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree sex offense after he confessed to sexually molesting a child under the age of 12 from November 2008 through October 2009. He was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
On July 25, 2023, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, he was convicted of naturalization fraud and his citizenship was revoked.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 3:21-cr-00184-KDB. Read More
Jose Valencia fraudulently naturalized on August 20, 2009. On January 23, 2017, in state court, he was convicted of rape and forcible sodomy. According to court records, Valencia paid to have the victim smuggled into the U.S. and repeatedly raped her over a period of nine years between 2004 and 2013. The attacks resulted in the birth of a child.
On December 22, 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, Valencia’s citizenship was revoked following a finding by the court that Valencia had obtained it fraudulently by concealing his crimes when he applied for naturalization. Valencia was immediately arrested by ERO following his release from prison and was removed to El Salvador on April 14, 2023.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 2:22-cv-0238. Read More
On September 11, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, a federal jury found Orlando Chavez guilty of naturalization fraud and using a fraudulently obtained naturalization certificate.
According to testimony and evidence presented during the two-day trial, Chavez was born in Cuba. On July 14, 2017, he submitted an Application for Naturalization to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). On his application, and under penalty of perjury, Chavez falsely responded “No” to two questions: “Were you EVER involved in any way with any of the following: Forcing or trying to force, someone to have any kind of sexual conduct or relations?”; and “Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense of which you were not arrested?” On April 19, 2018, Chavez was interviewed by a USCIS officer and provided the same responses to the same questions while under oath and penalty of perjury. In a ceremony on April 30, 2018, Chavez took the Oath of Allegiance and was naturalized as a United States citizen. On May 19, 2018, Chavez used his fraudulently obtained naturalization certificate as proof of United States citizenship to apply for a passport from the U.S. Department of State. In October of 2019, Chavez was convicted of two counts of child abuse. Chavez confessed to sexually molesting the child between January 1 and December 31 of 2014. The victim was less than 12 years old.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 24-cr-20035. Read More
On October 11, 2024, Robert Davis, a previously naturalized United States citizen born in Malaysia was sentenced to six months in prison for naturalization fraud. Moreover, 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 February 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 January 30, 2004 and December 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.
Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case no. 5:24-cr-00103. Read More
On February 28, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Jorge Antonio Velez-Lopez, a former Archdiocese priest and convicted child molester, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for passport fraud. Moreover, Velez was civilly denaturalized as a United States citizen and judicially ordered removed from the United States.
According to court documents, Velez was born in Columbia. In 2003, he was admitted to the U.S. as a temporary religious worker. On May 15, 2007, Velez submitted an application for permanent residency to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in which he stated under penalty of perjury that he had never knowingly committed any crime of moral turpitude. On November 6, 2007, Velez was granted permanent residency. On March 11, 2013, he submitted an Application for Naturalization to U.S. CIS. On his application, Velez stated under penalty of perjury that he had never committed a crime for which he had not been arrested, that he had never given false or misleading information to any U.S. Government official while applying for an immigration benefit, and that he had never lied to any U.S. Government official to gain entry or admission to the U.S. On May 23, 2013, Velez was interviewed by a U.S. CIS officer and provided the same responses to the same questions while under oath and penalty of perjury. In a ceremony on May 29, 2013, Velasquez took the Oath of Allegiance and was naturalized as a United States citizen. On September 27, 2013, Velez submitted a passport application as well as his naturalization certificate to the U.S. Department of State. Velez declared under penalty of perjury that he had not included any false documents in support of the passport application.
On February 19, 2020, Velez was arrested in Maryland by local authorities and charged with five counts of 3rd degree sex offense and one count of 4th degree sex offense. On May 14, 2021, Velez pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor for whom he had temporary responsibility for supervising, in violation of Maryland Criminal Code § 3-602(b)(1). He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 9 years and ordered to register as a sex offender for life. Velez confessed to having sexually abused the victim from June 19, 2003 through June 18, 2009 while serving as the child’s priest.
Once Velez completes his federal and state prison sentences he will be immediately remanded to ICE for removal to to Colombia. Related court records are available on PACER under case numbers 1:23-cr-00212 and 1:24-cv-01534. Read More
MORE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES
Convicted Child Molester Pleads Guilty to Naturalization Fraud
On August 29, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Dorian Velasquez pled guilty to naturalization fraud.
According to court documents, Velasquez fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship on July 25, 2015. On his application for naturalization, and under penalty of perjury, Velasquez responded “No” to the question “Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?” Velasquez was subsequently interviewed by a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer and provided the same response to the question while under oath. In October of 2019, Velasquez was convicted of four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child. Velasquez confessed to committing the crimes over a period of four years, between July 19, 2011 and July 19, 2015. Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case number 24-cr-20202.
Convicted Child Molester Indicted for Naturalization and Passport Fraud
On April 23, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Felix Aguilar-Matias, a naturalized citizen of the United States, born in Mexico, with naturalization and passport fraud.
According to the indictment, on March 5, 2015, Aguilar fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship by making false statements under oath regarding his naturalization application. He answered “No” 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 likewise denied having ever forced anyone to have any kind of sexual contact or sexual relations. Aguilar subsequently used his fraudulently obtained naturalization certificate to obtain a U.S. passport. On June 15, 2020, Aguilar was convicted in Mississippi state court of sexual battery and touching of a child for lustful purposes. He confessed to having committed the crimes from Aug. 1, 2010, to Dec. 31, 2010. The victim was less than 16 years old. Aguilar was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment and mandated to register as a sex offender. Related court records are available on PACER by searching for case number 1:24-cr-00036.
Convicted Child Molester Indicted for Naturalization Fraud
On March 20, 2024, in U.S. District Court, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Robert Davis, a naturalized citizen of the United States, born in Malaysia, with naturalization fraud.
According to the indictment, Davis fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship on May 9, 2017 by making false statements under oath during the application process. Specifically, Davis claimed that he had never committed any crime or forced anyone to have any kind of sexual contact. On February 2, 2024, in state court, Davis was convicted of indecent liberties with a child and attempted first-degree sexual offense with a child after he confessed to having sexually molested a 5-year-old girl from January 30, 2004 through December 30, 2005. Davis was sentenced for those crimes to over 16 years of imprisonment, in part because of a prior federal conviction in 2021 for possessing child pornography, which resulted in a 14-year sentence. Documents related to the indictment are available on PACER by searching for case number 5:24-cr-0103.
Convicted Child Molester Sentenced for Immigration Fraud and Judicially Ordered Removed from the United States
The U.S. Attorney announced that on Aug. 23, 2022, Levi Isidoro Velasco-Hernandez, 40, born in Mexico and residing in Johnston County, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle to six months in prison after pleading guilty to visa fraud. Moreover, Velasco was judicially ordered to be removed from the United States following the sentence he is currently serving in prison for violations of state law.
According to court records, on Feb. 3, 2017, Velasco fraudulently applied for and subsequently obtained an immigrant visa by making materially false statements under oath. During the application process, Velasco claimed that he had never engaged in any kind of sexual contact with any person who was being forced or threatened. This was not true, because he had taken indecent liberties with an 11-year-old child. At the time Velasco sought the visa, immigration officials were unaware of his crimes because he had not yet been arrested or charged for them.
Convicted Narcotics Trafficker Arrested for Naturalization Fraud
A Moore County man arrested on charges of naturalization fraud made his initial appearance July 14, 2021, before United States Magistrate Judge L. Patrick Auld in Greensboro.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jose De Jesus Munoz, 34, a naturalized citizen of the U.S. who was born in Mexico and resided in Jackson Springs, with naturalization fraud.
According to the indictment, Munoz knowingly failed to disclose during his 2012 naturalization proceedings that he had committed the crime of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 5 kilograms of cocaine from in or about 2011 to Dec. 18, 2014, in the Western District of North Carolina. Munoz was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in Wilmington on Sept. 17, 2012.
Convicted Child Molester Arrested in Fayetteville on Naturalization Fraud, Document Fraud and False Statement Charges
A Fayetteville man arrested on charges of naturalization fraud, document fraud, and making false statements in naturalization proceedings had an initial appearance Nov. 2, 2020, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian S. Meyers in Raleigh.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Abdelfatah Khadir, 44, a naturalized citizen of the United States who was born in Morocco and resided in Fayetteville, with naturalization fraud, document fraud, and making false statements in naturalization proceedings.
According to the indictment, Khadir knowingly failed to disclose during his naturalization proceedings that he had committed the crime of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and negligent child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury. Khadir was thereafter naturalized as a U.S. citizen on March 25, 2016.
Convicted Child Molester Indicted on Visa Fraud and False Statements in Immigration Proceedings
A federal grand jury returned an indictment June 3, 2021, charging a man from Cumberland County with visa fraud and making false statements in immigration proceedings.
According to the indictment, Roger Rene Diaz-Castellano, 53, a citizen and national of Honduras, knowingly made false statements in his application for temporary protected status when he denied having ever committed a crime, when in fact he had committed indecent liberties with a child over a seven-year period between 2010 and 2017.
Duplin County Man Arrested on Naturalization Fraud Charges
A Duplin County man was arrested on naturalization fraud charges and made his initial appearance Oct. 6, 2020, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers II in Raleigh.
A federal grand jury had returned an indictment charging Fidel Santibanez-Jaimes, 54, a naturalized citizen of the United States who was born in Mexico and resided in Duplin County, with naturalization fraud.
According to the indictment, Santibanez-Jaimes knowingly failed to disclose during his naturalization proceedings that he had committed the crime of felony possession of marijuana and failure to appear in court. Santibanez-Jaimes was thereafter naturalized as a U.S. citizen.
Pitt County Man Indicted on Naturalization Fraud, Passport Fraud, and Use and Possession of Fraudulent Documents
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a naturalized, Jamaican-born citizen of the United States with naturalization fraud, passport fraud, and use and possession of fraudulent documents.
According to the superseding indictment, Anthony Morris McFarlane, 53, of Pitt County, allegedly failed to disclose during his naturalization proceeding that he had committed the crime of attempted first-degree sexual abuse of a child less than 11 years old. McFarlane thereafter was naturalized as a U.S. citizen and fraudulently obtained and used multiple U.S. passports.
Convicted Child Molester Sentenced for Immigration Fraud and Judicially Ordered Removed from the United States
Manuel Alejandro Vitela-Romero, 36, a citizen of Mexico residing in Johnston County, was sentenced March 23, 2023, to time served plus one year of supervised release following a guilty plea to immigration fraud. The judge also ordered Vitela removed from the United States.
According to court records, on March 23, 2019, Vitela knowingly made a materially false statement on an application for an immigration benefit. He answered “No” in response to the question “Have you ever … engaged in [a]ny kind of sexual contact or relations with any person who was being forced or threatened?” However, Vitela had taken indecent liberties with a 13-year-old girl in 2018 and was convicted of the crime in 2022.