A federal grand jury in Wilmington, North Carolina, has indicted Anibal Rios Lavias, a U.S. citizen originally from Mexico, on charges of naturalization fraud. The indictment accuses Lavias of providing false information about his criminal activities during his application for U.S. citizenship.
The indictment and court documents allege that Lavias made knowingly false statements under oath during a naturalization interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). When asked if he had ever been involved in forcing someone to have sexual contact or if he had committed any crimes without being arrested, Lavias reportedly answered “No.” He became a naturalized citizen on May 4, 2018.
On March 19, 2024, Lavias pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of North Carolina in Alamance County to five counts of statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult. He received a prison sentence ranging from 300 to 420 months and was ordered to register as a sex offender. The offenses occurred between February 25, 2018, and February 26, 2023. At the time of his naturalization, immigration officials were unaware of these crimes since he had not yet been arrested.
Lavias now faces two counts of naturalization fraud and could receive up to 20 years in prison along with the revocation of his U.S. citizenship if convicted.
The announcement was made by Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The investigation is being conducted by officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division as part of Operation False Haven—a program targeting individuals who obtain citizenship through fraudulent means. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick is prosecuting the case.
Further details can be accessed via the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or through PACER using Case No. 5:25-cr-00152-BO-RJ.
