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Convicted Child Rapist Indicted on Passport Scam Charges
Raleigh, NC – In a shocking case of deception, a convicted child rapist has been indicted on 11 counts of passport fraud in North Carolina.
J. Refugio Gomez-Juarez, a 51-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen born in Mexico, allegedly failed to disclose his heinous crime during his naturalization proceedings, resulting in his fraudulent acquisition of multiple U.S. passports.
According to the indictment, Gomez-Juarez knowingly concealed his second-degree forcible rape of a mentally disabled child, a crime he committed before becoming a U.S. citizen.
If convicted, Gomez-Juarez faces up to 25 years in prison per count, a maximum fine of $250,000 per count, and the revocation of his citizenship.
The investigation, part of Operation False Haven, was led by Agents with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations, assigned to the Document Benefit Fraud Task Force.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement, stating that an indictment is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case highlights the severity of passport fraud and the importance of thorough background checks in the naturalization process.
In related news, the year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the agency that oversees this investigation. Learn more about the history of the agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Sex Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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