MIAMI, Florida – A convicted child molester has pleaded guilty to naturalization fraud, authorities announced.
Dorian Velasquez, 43, a Guatemalan national, obtained United States citizenship through deceit.
According to court documents, Velasquez submitted an Application for Naturalization to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on April 11, 2014. On his application, Velasquez responded "No" to the question "Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?" while under penalty of perjury.
On July 24, 2014, Velasquez was interviewed by a U.S.CIS officer and provided the same response to the question while under oath and penalty of perjury. In a ceremony, on July 25, 2015, Velasquez took the Oath of Allegiance and was naturalized as a United States citizen.
In October 2019, Velasquez pled guilty to four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child and was ordered to register as a sex offender. Velasquez committed the crimes over a period of four years, between July 19, 2011 and July 19, 2015. Velasquez was not arrested for these offenses until after he was naturalized.
Velasquez is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, as well as the automatic revocation of his United States citizenship. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was presented by ICE’s ERO division in Miami as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing national initiative designed to identify and prosecute child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtained United States citizenship.
Defendant: Dorian Velasquez
Criminal Charges: Naturalization Fraud
City and State: Miami, Florida
Date: August 29, 2024
Sentence: Scheduled to be sentenced on November 19 with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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