GREENSBORO, N.C. – A Lee County predator has been dealt a double blow: six months in federal prison and the revocation of his U.S. citizenship. Ruben Rosas-Avalos, 25, was sentenced November 17, 2021, after admitting he lied to become a naturalized citizen, concealing a horrific past that included the sexual abuse of children.
Rosas-Avalos, originally from Mexico, pleaded guilty to naturalization fraud on July 20, 2021. The scheme unraveled when investigators discovered he falsely claimed to have *never* committed a crime during his application process. He swore under oath that he hadn’t been arrested, a blatant deception that allowed him to slip through the system and become a U.S. citizen on February 23, 2016.
The truth, however, was far darker. On March 28, 2019, the Superior Court of North Carolina in Lee County convicted Rosas-Avalos of statutory rape of a child and indecent liberties with a child. The sentencing was brutal: over 26 years imprisonment and a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender. Court records reveal the depravity spanned years – indecent liberties committed July 27, 2015, and statutory rape on September 13, 2017, targeting two different young victims.
Crucially, Rosas-Avalos wasn’t arrested for these heinous crimes until *after* he had fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship. This timing allowed him to exploit a loophole, shielding his crimes from initial scrutiny by immigration officials. The case highlights the critical need for robust vetting and information sharing between state and federal agencies.
This case was cracked as part of “Operation False Haven,” an ongoing initiative led by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Document Benefit Fraud Task Force. The operation is specifically designed to aggressively pursue and prosecute individuals – particularly child predators and violent felons – who have illegally obtained U.S. citizenship through deceit. Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina announced the sentence, emphasizing the commitment to protecting communities from such individuals.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank J. Chut prosecuted the case, ensuring Rosas-Avalos faced consequences for both his initial crimes and his attempt to fraudulently secure citizenship. While the six-month federal sentence may seem short in light of his 26-year state conviction, the judicial denaturalization sends a clear message: attempting to hide a criminal past will not shield you from justice, and citizenship earned through lies will be revoked. Rosas-Avalos will now face deportation to Mexico upon completion of his federal sentence, adding another layer of accountability for his actions.
RELATED: Ruben Rosas-Avalos Stripped of Citizenship After Child Rape Conviction
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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