A Tucson man, Juan Antonio Ruiz, was indicted for naturalization fraud by a federal grand jury on March 18, following an inquiry led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The indictment claims that Ruiz, 47, misrepresented his criminal history during his naturalization process in 2015 by denying any unarrested crimes.
Ruiz was arrested in May 2018 for offenses including sexual conduct with a minor under 15 and attempted child molestation. These acts were reportedly committed between September 2003 and January 2008, prior to his obtaining citizenship. Ruiz entered a guilty plea for these charges in 2021.
If found guilty of the fraud charges, Ruiz could face up to a decade in prison, a $250,000 penalty, and the revocation of his citizenship and naturalization certificate. It is important to note that an indictment is an allegation and any defendant is considered innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sydney Yew from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona located in Phoenix.
