DOJ Seeks to Revoke U.S. Citizenship of 17 Naturalized Citizens Accused of Serious Crimes
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), in partnership with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has filed denaturalization actions against 17 naturalized U.S. citizens accused of concealing serious criminal activity during their immigration and naturalization processes.
The cases involve allegations ranging from child sexual abuse and immigration fraud to healthcare fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, and illegal drug distribution. Federal authorities claim the individuals either obtained citizenship through fraud or failed to disclose criminal conduct that would have affected their eligibility for U.S. citizenship.
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What Is Denaturalization?
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the U.S. government can revoke citizenship if it was illegally obtained or secured through concealment of material facts or willful misrepresentation.
Federal officials argue that citizenship is a privilege that requires honesty throughout the immigration process. If applicants hide criminal conduct or provide false information under oath, they may face denaturalization proceedings even years after becoming U.S. citizens.
Homeland Security Issues Strong Warning
The Department of Homeland Security emphasized that individuals who commit crimes and mislead immigration authorities risk losing their citizenship status.
Officials stated that the government will continue using all available legal tools to identify and remove individuals who obtained immigration benefits through fraud or deception.
Healthcare Fraud Case Involving Nearly $37 Million
One of the largest cases involves Leidys Delmas Garcia, a Cuban-born naturalized citizen convicted of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.
According to prosecutors, Garcia and her associates operated approximately 30 physical therapy clinics in Florida that fraudulently billed Blue Cross Blue Shield for nearly $36.7 million in services that were either medically unnecessary or never provided.
Authorities say her admissions during criminal proceedings support the government’s effort to revoke her citizenship.
Indian-Origin Businessman Neeraj Sharma Named in DOJ Filing
Among the individuals targeted is Neeraj Sharma, an Indian-born businessman and former CEO of Magnavision LLC, a staffing company based in New Jersey.
Federal authorities allege Sharma filed 11 fraudulent H-1B visa petitions containing false employment information and forged corporate documents. Prosecutors claim he later denied any wrongdoing during his naturalization application and interview.
Sharma became a U.S. citizen in December 2017 but was later convicted of fraud and misuse of visas related to offenses committed before his naturalization.
Multiple Child Sexual Abuse Cases Highlighted
Several denaturalization actions involve individuals convicted of crimes against minors.
Jean Claude Alfred
Authorities allege Alfred repeatedly sexually abused his minor daughter beginning before he applied for citizenship and continued the abuse during his naturalization proceedings.
Tahir Lekaj
Lekaj was later convicted of sexually abusing a child under the age of 15. Prosecutors claim the abuse occurred before he became a U.S. citizen.
Armando Mendoza
Federal officials allege Mendoza received sexually explicit images involving minors before his naturalization and failed to disclose the conduct during immigration proceedings.
Jheromell Obejera Arcilla
Arcilla pleaded guilty to sex abuse of a minor after authorities discovered a long-term sexual abuse case involving a teenage relative.
Ronnie Price
Price later pleaded guilty to statutory rape after authorities determined the offense occurred before he became a naturalized citizen.
Securities Fraud Scheme Caused Millions in Investor Losses
Talman Harris Accused of Stock Manipulation
Talman Harris, a native of Jamaica, allegedly participated in a large stock manipulation scheme over several years.
According to federal authorities, the operation generated more than $54 million in investments while causing approximately $39 million in investor losses. Prosecutors argue that the misconduct occurred during the period when Harris was required to demonstrate good moral character for naturalization.
Money Laundering and Drug-Trafficking Connections
Andrea Marroquin Case
Andrea Marroquin, originally from Colombia, is accused of concealing criminal activity linked to money laundering and financial fraud.
Authorities allege she used money inherited from her father, a major Colombian drug trafficker, to finance fraudulent real estate transactions and laundering operations in Florida.
Prescription Drug Distribution Conspiracy
Federico Michel Fermin
Federal prosecutors accuse Federico Michel Fermin of participating in a conspiracy to distribute prescription drugs wholesale without the necessary licenses.
Court records indicate that drug packaging was altered to make the products appear to originate from authorized distributors.
Identity Fraud and Immigration Deception Cases
Abdikadir Ali Kadiye
Authorities allege Kadiye used two separate identities while applying for immigration benefits and later admitted to using multiple identities during the immigration process.
Victor San Shing Kwok
The DOJ claims Kwok initially entered immigration proceedings under one identity and later pursued immigration benefits through marriage to a U.S. citizen.
Louise Hunkporti
Investigators say Hunkporti obtained immigration benefits using a false identity. The case was reportedly uncovered after fingerprint records were digitized and compared with historical applications.
Marriage Fraud Allegations
Maria Lourdes Montoya
Federal authorities allege Montoya secured immigration benefits by misrepresenting her marital relationship.
According to court filings, she claimed to be married to a U.S. citizen but was allegedly married to another individual who had assumed a false identity.
Priest Accused of Abusing Minor Parishioner
Fernando Cristancho
Cristancho, an ordained Catholic priest, allegedly used his position within the church to gain access to minor victims.
Authorities say he later admitted to sexually abusing a young parishioner and pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement charges that resulted in a 22-year prison sentence.
Additional Fraud and Criminal Cases Named by DOJ
Other individuals named in the denaturalization actions include:
Rodger George Gurdon
Accused of participating in conspiracies involving stolen medical products and marijuana distribution.
Milagros Marileisis Acosta Torres
Linked to a large casino fraud scheme involving millions of dollars in fraudulent transactions and money laundering activities.
How Technology Helped Uncover Old Cases
Federal authorities noted that advances in digital recordkeeping and fingerprint technology played a key role in uncovering several decades-old immigration fraud cases.
The digitization of historical immigration records allowed investigators to identify discrepancies, false identities, and prior immigration applications that were previously difficult to detect.
What Happens Next?
The denaturalization complaints will proceed through federal courts across the United States.
Judges will determine whether the government has provided sufficient evidence to prove that citizenship was obtained through fraud, concealment, or other unlawful means.
If the government succeeds, the individuals could lose their U.S. citizenship and potentially face further immigration enforcement actions.