Orlando Chávez, a convicted child abuser from Cuba, has been found guilty of naturalization fraud by a federal jury in Miami and will lose his U.S. citizenship for obtaining it illegally. On September 11, Chávez, 43, was convicted of naturalization fraud and using a fraudulently obtained naturalization certificate, following a two-day trial that included testimonies and evidence of his Cuban birth and citizenship process.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, Chávez submitted his naturalization application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on July 14, 2017. In his application, and under oath, he falsely answered 'No' to two questions: 'Have you ever been involved in any way with any of the following: forcing or attempting to force someone to engage in any kind of sexual conduct or relations?' and 'Have you ever committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?'
On April 19, 2018, during an interview with a USCIS officer, Chávez provided the same false answers to those two questions while under oath and penalty of perjury. A few days later, on April 30, Chávez took the Oath of Allegiance and was naturalized as a U.S. citizen. In May, he presented his fraudulently obtained naturalization certificate as proof of U.S. citizenship to apply for a passport from the State Department.
The Southern District of Florida Attorney's Office indicated that in the same year, after naturalizing, Chávez was arrested and charged with two counts of child abuse against a victim under the age of 12, committed between January 1 and December 31, 2014. A court found him guilty of those crimes in 2019, sentencing him to 14 months in prison and five years of probation, in addition to mandating his participation in a sex offender treatment program.
U.S. District Judge Roy Altman will sentence Chávez in a hearing scheduled for January 8. Along with the sentence, his citizenship will be automatically revoked. Although the prosecution did not specify, Chávez may be the same individual who was arrested in Hialeah in August 2018, accused of raping his own seven-year-old daughter on at least two occasions. Press reports at the time noted that the victim, then 11, claimed that her biological father, Chávez, sexually abused her when she was seven.
The fraud case against Chávez was brought by the ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division in Miami as part of "Operation False Haven," a national initiative aimed at identifying and prosecuting child abusers and other heinous criminals who fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship.
Details on Orlando Chávez's Case and Citizenship Revocation
Below are some frequently asked questions about Orlando Chávez's case and the implications of his citizenship revocation.
Why was Orlando Chávez's U.S. citizenship revoked?
Orlando Chávez's U.S. citizenship was revoked because he obtained it through naturalization fraud, providing false information under oath during his application process.
What crimes was Chávez convicted of?
Chávez was convicted of child abuse against a victim under the age of 12, specifically for crimes committed between January 1 and December 31, 2014. He was also found guilty of naturalization fraud.
What penalties did Chávez face for his crimes?
Chávez was sentenced to 14 months in prison, five years of probation, and mandated to attend a sex offender treatment program. Additionally, he will lose his U.S. citizenship.
Who brought the case against Chávez?
The case was brought by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division in Miami as part of "Operation False Haven."