Miami Jury Finds Convicted Child Molester Guilty of Naturalization Fraud

MIAMI – On Sept. 11. a federal jury found Orlando Chavez, 43, a convicted child molester, 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 Oct. 2019, Chavez was convicted of two counts of child abuse for conduct against a minor victim under 12 years of age between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2014. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison, five years of probation and was ordered to attend a sex offender treatment program.  Chavez was not arrested for these offenses until after he was naturalized.

U.S. District Judge Roy Altman is scheduled to sentence Chavez on Jan. 8, after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  In addition to any sentence imposed, Chavez’s citizenship will be automatically revoked.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Field Office Director Garrett Ripa of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and District Director Brett R. Rinehart of the USCIS Miami and Caribbean District made the announcement.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Shaw and Assistant U.S. Attorney Yisel Valdes for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. The case was presented by ICE’s ERO division in Miami as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing national initiative designed to identify and prosecute child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtained United States citizenship.   

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl. 

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20035. 

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