A federal grand jury in Wilmington, North Carolina, has indicted Anibal Rios Lavias, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen originally from Mexico, on charges of naturalization fraud. The indictment claims that Lavias provided false information about his criminal activities when applying for U.S. citizenship.
The court documents reveal that Lavias allegedly made false statements under oath during a naturalization interview with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). He reportedly denied involvement in forcing sexual contact or committing any unarrested crimes, despite later pleading guilty to serious offenses.
On March 19, 2024, Lavias admitted guilt in the Superior Court of North Carolina in Alamance County to five counts of statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult. His sentence ranged from 300 to 420 months in prison, along with mandatory registration as a sex offender. The crimes occurred between February 2018 and February 2023, beginning when the victim was just five years old. Lavias’s arrest took place after he had already obtained citizenship.
The two-count indictment for naturalization fraud carries a potential maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and automatic revocation of his U.S. citizenship if convicted.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the indictment. The case is under investigation by officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division as part of Operation False Haven. This initiative targets individuals who fraudulently secure U.S. citizenship through deceitful means. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick is handling the prosecution.
For more information and related court documents, visit the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or search PACER using Case No. 5:25-cr-00152-BO-RJ.
