A Cuban man residing in Miami has had his U.S. citizenship revoked after a federal jury found him guilty of naturalization fraud. The conviction stems from false statements he made under oath about a prior child abuse conviction, according to an investigation by the Enforcement and Removal Operations in Miami.
Orlando Chavez, 43, originally from Cuba, was found guilty of committing fraud during his naturalization process and for using a fraudulently obtained naturalization certificate, as stated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Acquiring U.S. citizenship through fraudulent means undermines the integrity of the naturalization process,” remarked Garrett J. Ripa, director of the ERO Miami office. “Our mission is to ensure that offenders who hide their crimes, including child abuse, are brought to justice, thereby safeguarding our communities,” highlighted ICE.
On September 11, Chavez was convicted of naturalization fraud and using a fraudulent certificate following a two-day trial. Evidence presented showed he was born in Cuba and detailed his path to U.S. citizenship.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida disclosed that Chavez submitted his naturalization application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on July 14, 2017. In his application, under oath, he falsely answered “No” to questions about involvement in sexual conduct or crime.
During the trial, it was revealed that Chavez lied under oath on his application dated July 14, 2017. He was naturalized on April 30, 2018, and subsequently used his certificate to apply for a passport on May 19 of the same year.
In October 2019, Chavez was convicted on two counts of child abuse, receiving a sentence of 14 months in prison followed by five years of probation. This conviction came after his naturalization.
Chavez is scheduled for sentencing on January 8, 2025, facing a maximum of 10 years in prison and automatic revocation of his U.S. citizenship, according to the document. The investigation is part of an ongoing initiative targeting serious criminals who concealed crimes during the naturalization process.
Though not specified by the prosecution at the time, Chavez may be the same individual arrested in Hialeah in August 2018, accused of sexually assaulting his seven-year-old daughter on multiple occasions. Reports from the time indicated that the victim, who was 11 years old by then, alleged that Chavez, her biological father, had abused her when she was seven.