Illegal Alien Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexually Assaulting an 8-Year-Old Girl in Virginia

This is just the latest in a long list of crimes committed by illegal aliens in the commonwealth 

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after a criminal illegal alien was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Loudoun County, Virginia upon his conviction for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl.

On May 28, Aroldo Santos-Velasques, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 25 years in prison after he was found guilty on the charges of aggravated sexual battery and attempted sexual battery. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to local reporting, police in Leesburg arrested Santos-Velasques in May of 2024 on the charges of rape and using an object for sexual penetration. His victim was 8 years old at the time, and the investigation also determined that another child was present while he molested his victim.

“This monster was sentenced to 25 years after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “DHS is calling on Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians to cooperate with us and turn this pedophile over to ICE custody after his sentence is complete, so that he can never again roam our streets and molest another innocent child. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, we will not allow criminal illegal alien pedophiles to prey on innocent children in American neighborhoods.”

Santos-Velasques illegally entered the country in Texas in 2014 and was deported. He then illegally re-entered the country – a felony – at an unknown date and location.

During her first days in office, Governor Spanberger signed executive orders banning state cooperation with ICE as well as terminating 287(g) state and local agreements.

Under Governor Spanberger, Virginia has become a hotbed of illegal alien crime. Some of the recent illegal alien crimes in the sanctuary state include:

• In May, ICE lodged a detainer for Cristian Romero Saenz-Argueta, an illegal alien from El Salvador, who was arrested in Prince William County, Virginia and charged with raping a girl under the age of 15.
• In May, ICE lodged a detainer for Jorge Enrique Garcia-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Mexico, who was arrested in Franklin County, Virginia and charged with forcible intercourse with a victim under the age of 13 and SIX counts of possession of child pornography.
• In May, ICE arrested Eduardo Perez-Legra, an illegal alien from Cuba with prior felony convictions for drug trafficking and cocaine possession, in Newport News, Virginia.
• In May, ICE arrested Walvin Victor Hugo Garcia, an illegal alien from Guatemala, after he was released by sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County despite facing charges of raping a child under the age of 13.
• In May, ICE arrested Josue Saul Garcia-Lopez, an illegal alien from El Salvador and MS-13 gang member, in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
• In April, Roni Mendez-Escobar, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested by ICE after previously being released by Fairfax County, despite being charged with possession of child porn with intent to distribute.
• In April, ICE lodged a detainer asking sanctuary politicians in Arlington County to not release Luzvin Orvando Garcia Moran, an illegal alien from Guatemala, after he was arrested for attempted rape.
• In April, Israel Christopher Flores-Ortiz, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, was convicted for NINE counts of assault and battery after he groped multiple underage girls at a high school in Fairfax County.
• In April, the Fairfax County District Attorney’s Office offered an insane plea deal of just 5 years to two illegal aliens who murdered a man at a park and walking trail in Oakton, Virginia in July of 2024.
• In April, Misael Lopez Gomez, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested and charged with murder and felony child abuse after bludgeoning his own 3-month-old daughter to death in Fairfax County.
• In March, Anibal Armando Chavarria Muy, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested and charged with second degree murder after fatally stabbing a man inside his home in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia.
• In February, Abdul Jalloh, an illegal alien from Sierra Leone with more than 30 prior arrests, was charged with murder after fatally stabbing 41-year-old Stephanie Minter at a bus stop in Hybla Valley, Virginia.

Daleville Resident Receives 35 Year Prison Sentence for Role in Large‑Scale Methamphetamine and Cocaine Conspiracy

 

Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott of the New Orleans Field Division announced that a Daleville, Alabama man has been sentenced for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating in Alabama’s Wiregrass region.

On June 3, 2026, Eric Demetrius King, 42, was sentenced to 420 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. King will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“This case demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement work together,” said United States Attorney Thomas Govan. “Our partners played a critical role in dismantling this drug trafficking network, and we will continue working side by side to combat the flow of illegal narcotics into the Middle District of Alabama.”

"Today's announcement reflects the tireless dedication of investigators who spent years unraveling a sophisticated network responsible for trafficking vast quantities of meth and cocaine into Alabama,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott. “With the organization's leader facing 35 years in federal prison, and 18 additional defendants being held accountable, we have dealt a substantial blow to drug trafficking in the Wiregrass region. The DEA New Orleans Field Division remains deeply committed to keeping our communities safe and ensuring that those who profit from the illicit drug trade face the full weight of federal justice."

According to court documents, in the spring of 2022, DEA, working in coordination with multiple local law enforcement agencies, began investigating a suspected drug trafficking operation in southeast Alabama. Investigators determined that at least 19 individuals, including King, were part of a conspiracy responsible for transporting and distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine into the Wiregrass.

During the investigation, agents identified King as a major participant who exercised a leadership role within the conspiracy.

To date, eight of King’s co-conspirators have been sentenced:

• Marco Lionel Agee, 51, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida – 276 months in prison; five years of supervised release

• Curtis Antonio Fitzpatrick, 44, of Elba, Alabama – 151 months in prison; five years of supervised release

• Alexander Travarez Richardson, 34, of Daleville, Alabama – 135 months in prison; five years of supervised release

• Cristion Martinez, 32, of Ellenwood, Georgia – 120 months in prison; five years of supervised release

• Steven L. Cole, 50, of Enterprise, Alabama – 97 months in prison; four years of supervised release

• Benjamin Maurice Sanders, 51, of Chancellor, Alabama – 78 months in prison; five years of supervised release

• Tavon Marquis Davies, 30, of Enterprise, Alabama – 48 months in prison; four years of supervised release

• Freddy Rodriguez, 68, of Daleville, Alabama – 15 months in prison; two years of supervised release

Sentencing hearings for the remaining ten defendants are pending.

Ahead of FIFA World Cup, NYC Council Calls for Public Education and Enforcement Against Tourism Scams Following Investigation into Unlicensed Taxis, Pedicabs, and Ferry-Ticket Vendors

 

Investigators found inflated prices, deceptive advertising of services, and illegal operations plague high-traffic tourist areas

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other high-profile events this summer, the New York City Council released the details of a new investigation into the practices of unlicensed taxis and rideshares, pedicab operators, and unauthorized ticket vendors operating in and around Battery Park, Midtown Manhattan, and Coney Island. Through undercover fieldwork, observations, and dozens of interactions, investigators from the City Council’s Oversight and Investigations Division (OID) identified consistent patterns of deceptive activity, aggressive solicitation, and unlicensed operations designed to take advantage of consumers and avoid regulations.

The investigation was announced in a new report, Taken For a Ride.

“As New York City prepares to welcome millions of visitors for the NBA Finals, 2026 FIFA World Cup, America 250, and other major events, protecting tourists from scams and fraudulent activity must be a top priority,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “Tourism is a cornerstone of our economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and driving billions of dollars in economic activity across the five boroughs. To remain the world’s premier destination, visitors must feel safe, informed, and confident that they will be treated fairly. The Council investigated and issued a report that makes clear that stronger enforcement, better coordination, and improved public education are needed to crack down on bad actors and protect both tourists and New York City’s reputation. I thank the Council’s Oversight and Investigations Division for its important work on this issue.”

Throughout the investigation, Council investigators observed and documented the following:

•   Operators presented themselves as legitimate while bypassing required licensing, registration, or safety standards. Investigators found that participants in each of the reviewed industries often falsely represented themselves as being licensed. Investigators observed that:
  •   Ticket vendors in Battery Park often wore clothing that gave the appearance of being official licensed ticket vendors, but many did not display the required license and were operating illegally.
  •   Pedicab drivers solicited passengers and operated pedicabs without proper Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) licensure or a valid driver’s license.
•   Prices were often unclear or inflated. Investigators observed instances where quoted prices differed from final charges or were structured in ways that obscured the true cost, such as when:
  •   Pedicab drivers intentionally covered the mandatory per-minute rate sign or stated that the ride was charged by time but failed to provide the rate.
  •   Battery Park Statue of Liberty ticket vendors quoted one price but failed to state that there were additional charges for transportation to the pier where their tour boats launched.
•   Vendors and operators routinely misrepresented what was being sold. Vendors and operators often described one service and delivered another, often actively seeking to represent themselves as the legitimate service.
  •   Ticket vendors selling Statue of Liberty tours often misled customers into believing that the tours included disembarkation at the Statue of Liberty, but instead, the boats only circled Liberty Island.
  •   Non-TLC vehicles used signs claiming to be official rideshare vehicles when they were not registered with the TLC.

To reduce scams and protect New Yorkers and visitors to the city, the Council recommends the mayoral administration take the following actions:

Enforcement

•   Coordinate with relevant enforcement partners, including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NYPD, Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Department of Transportation (DOT), and other agencies, to create a unified enforcement strategy for areas where jurisdictions overlap.
•   Increase targeted enforcement in high-traffic tourist areas, particularly against unlicensed taxi and rideshare solicitation, misleading pedicab pricing, and unauthorized ticket vending.
•   Track complaints and enforcement outcomes during the World Cup period and other key tourist events to identify recurring locations, operators, and practices, and to assess whether additional enforcement or public education is needed.

Education

•   Prioritize the implementation of Introduction 847-A, sponsored by Deputy Leader Sandra Ung, which requires the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to create and promote tourist-focused consumer protection materials addressing common deceptive trade practices. The Council passed Introduction 847-A in May.

Mayor Mamdani Completes First Phase of Battery Coastal Resilience Project

 

First phase of landmark $200 million project protects Lower Manhattan from rising seas and lays groundwork for comprehensive waterfront protection for 100,000 residents, 300,000 jobs and 12,000 businesses

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) and the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) announced the completion of phase one of Battery Coastal Resilience, a landmark $200 million investment in the long-term safety and resilience of Lower Manhattan.

Phase one of the Battery Coastal Resilience project rebuilds and elevates a portion of the wharf promenade in The Battery, helping protect one of New York City’s most iconic public parks from projected sea-level rise through 2100.

Battery Coastal Resilience is part of more than $2.7 billion in Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency (LMCR) capital investments designed to reduce flood risk from coastal storms and rising seas. Once completed, the full LMCR strategy will help protect more than 100,000 residents, 300,000 jobs and 12,000 businesses.

“The Battery is one of the most treasured public spaces in New York City, but it is also on the front lines of the climate crisis,” said Mayor Mamdani. “We cannot treat climate resilience as something we can put off until tomorrow. This project is a reminder that protecting New Yorkers requires action today. With phase one now complete, we are taking a major step toward safeguarding Lower Manhattan’s residents, workers, small businesses and public spaces from rising seas and stronger storms.”

“We must build a resilient city with a clear focus on the waterfront communities that have already experienced catastrophic coastal flooding and continue to face rising sea levels year after year,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “This project reflects years of coordination across agencies and community partners that will continue as we pursue phase two. I am thrilled that New Yorkers and visitors can now enjoy a safer, stronger waterfront and see firsthand what climate resilience looks like in action.”

“The completion of phase one of the Battery Coastal Resilience project marks an inspiring milestone for Lower Manhattan and all of New York as we continue the transformation of our city’s waterfront into a more resilient, vibrant and welcoming public space that will serve New Yorkers for generations to come,” said NYCEDC Interim President & CEO Jeanny Pak. “NYCEDC is proud to work alongside our partners at NYC Parks to deliver crucial coastal resilience projects — like The Battery — to safeguard critical infrastructure, historic landmarks and thousands of residents, jobs and businesses. We look forward to continuing this all-important work as additional climate resilience projects advance and come online after years of planning, design and construction.”

“The completion of phase one of Battery Coastal Resilience marks a major step forward in protecting Lower Manhattan from the growing impacts of climate change while preserving and enhancing one of New York City’s most iconic public spaces,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “By rebuilding and elevating this historic waterfront, we are strengthening critical infrastructure, improving public access to the shoreline and ensuring that The Battery can continue serving New Yorkers and visitors well into the future.”

“Finishing the first phase of the Battery Coastal Resilience project is a major step toward strengthening New York City’s coastal defenses and reducing the impacts of flooding and storm surge caused by extreme weather events,” said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. “Climate change is already reshaping our shoreline, and Lower Manhattan is on the front lines. This work is transforming The Battery into a safer, more adaptable public space that will better protect New Yorkers against future storms.”

“The completion of phase one of the Battery Coastal Resilience project marks a major milestone in New York City’s efforts to protect communities from the growing impacts of climate change,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung. “As sea levels rise and storms become more intense, investments like this are critical to safeguarding New Yorkers, strengthening our waterfront and building a more resilient city for future generations.”

NYS LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL THAT WILL PROVIDE FULL, INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT OF THE NYC ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES (ACS) BY GRANTING DOI ACCESS TO CRITICAL ACS RECORDS

Nadia I. Shihata, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), thanked State Senator Jabari Brisport and State Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi for their sponsorship and support of S8205A/A8428A, which provides DOI critical access to records at the City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). With this access, DOI will be able to conduct full, independent investigations as it does at other City agencies. The legislation, which passed the Assembly unanimously and the Senate in a 59-1 vote, must still be signed by the Governor.

DOI Commissioner Nadia I. Shihata said, “As New York City’s independent Inspector General, DOI’s core mission is to find the facts, expose wrongdoing and corruption at City agencies and entities, and improve government for all New Yorkers. This includes the children of New York City. This legislation empowers DOI to fulfill its mission and conduct the rigorous and independent oversight that it does at other City agencies. I want to thank the State Legislature – in particular State Senator Jabari Brisport and State Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi – for their sponsorship and support of the bill. The Governor’s signature would be a win for the children of New York City and for advancing oversight over the City’s child welfare system.”

In May, DOI issued a Report on the obstacles to its independent oversight of the City’s child welfare system due to the New York State Social Services Law (SSL) and the discretion provided by certain provisions of the SSL to a state entity. The Report sought to bring to the public’s attention the impediments presented by State law and the interpretation of these laws by state regulators that consistently hinder DOI investigations and the fulfillment of DOI’s legal mandate. 

Justice Department Moves to Strip U.S. Citizenship from 17 Naturalized Sex Offenders, Fraudsters, Drug Dealers, and More

 

The Department of Justice announced today that it filed denaturalization actions in various U.S. district courts against 17 individuals accused of serious offenses—including sexual abuse of a minor, wire and bank fraud, and distributing drugs wholesale without a license.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, a naturalized U.S. citizen’s citizenship may be revoked, and certificate of naturalization canceled, if the naturalization was illegally procured or procured by concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.

“When criminal aliens exploit the naturalization process by breaking the law, there are consequences. Criminal aliens are lying about their past crimes, including drug dealers, sexual predators, and fraudsters. Gaining U.S. citizenship is a privilege and under the steadfast leadership of President Trump, this Department of Justice maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the abuse of this process,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We continue to work around the clock with our interagency partners to make sure U.S. citizenship is granted to those who truly deserve it.”

“American citizenship is a privilege, and it must be earned honestly. If you come here break our laws, and lie in your immigration proceedings, you forfeit that privilege,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “DHS will not stand idly by while Americans are harmed by criminals including sex offenders, perpetrators of fraud, and drug traffickers who have exploited our generosity and gamed our immigration system. We will continue to use every lawful avenue to denaturalize and remove aliens.” 

“We will not turn a blind eye to those who unlawfully obtained U.S. citizenship,” Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Anyone thinking they can defraud the naturalization process should think again. We will continue to pursue anyone who unlawfully or fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship.”

1. Leidys Delmas Garcia (Age 54/Cuba): Delmas Garcia is a native of Cuba who was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.  The U.S. seeks an order revoking Delmas Garcia’s naturalization based on her admission in criminal proceedings that she and her co-conspirators established and operated 30 physical therapy clinics in Florida that fraudulently billed commercial insurance provider Blue Cross, Blue Shield approximately $36,728,595 for physical therapy services that were not medically necessary and/or never provided.  During her naturalization interview, Delmas Garcia represented under penalty of perjury that she had not committed crimes for which she had not been arrested and that she had never given false or misleading information to any U.S. government official while applying for any immigration benefit.  Neither was true.
2. Jean Claude Alfred (Age 68/Haiti): The United States filed a denaturalization action against Jean Claude Alfred, a native of Haiti who naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1994. Beginning in September 1993, approximately one month before filing his naturalization application, Alfred repeatedly sexually abused his minor daughter and continued that conduct during the pendency of his naturalization proceedings. During the naturalization process, Alfred represented in his application and under oath that he had not committed any crime for which he had not been arrested and concealed his ongoing criminal conduct. In 1996, a Florida jury convicted Alfred of attempted sexual battery upon a child in a familial or custodial relationship and lewd, lascivious, and indecent assault upon a child under the age of 16 for Alfred's criminal conduct that began in September 1993, before he naturalized. The denaturalization complaint alleges that Alfred illegally procured his citizenship because he provided false testimony which prevented him from establishing good moral character required for naturalization. The complaint further alleges that Alfred obtained citizenship through the concealment and willful misrepresentation of material facts concerning his sexual abuse of a minor.
3. Andrea Marroquin (Age 44/Colombia): Marroquin is the daughter of a major Colombian drug trafficker who inherited his money when he died. She obtained permanent residence in the United States by concealing her bigamous marriage to a United States citizen. Between 2003 and 2011, she conspired to engage in wire and bank fraud and money laundering, using her late father’s drug money to finance fraudulent real estate transactions in Miami, Florida. She became a naturalized citizen in 2009 by concealing her crimes. The United States has brought four claims against Marroquin seeking her denaturalization, including claims she knowingly lied to immigration authorities and lacked the good moral character to become a U.S. citizen.
4. Maria Lourdes Montoya (Age 63/Mexico): On June 4, 2026, the United States brought a denaturalization action against Maria Lourdes Montoya, who misrepresented her husband’s identify to secure permanent residence and later citizenship. In support of both her application for permanent residence and naturalization, Montoya represented herself to be the spouse of a U.S. Citizen—Gilberto Montoya. But Montya was never married to Gilberto Montoya, who died decades earlier. Instead, Montoya was marred to Ernesto Orozco-Viramontes, a Mexican national who had assumed the identity of Gilberto. Montoya was aware of her husband’s deception and leveraged it to obtain immigration benefits, including naturalized citizenship. The United States filed a five-count complaint against Montoya seeking to cancel her naturalized citizenship.
5. Tahir Lekaj (Age 43/Yugoslavia): Lekaj was admitted to the United States in August 1999 and subsequently obtained permanent residence.  When he applied to naturalize in 2004, Mr. Lekaj wrote in his application that he had never committed a crime for which he had not been arrested.  He later repeated that claim orally and under oath during his naturalization interview.  His application was approved, and he naturalized in May 2005.  However, in 2022, the State of Connecticut convicted Mr. Lekaj of two counts of sexually abusing a child under the age of 15 in January 2003.  Evidence at trial indicated that the victim was 10 years old when the abuse began.  The United States filed a complaint seeking to revoke Mr. Lekaj’s citizenship because he illegally procured his citizenship because he was unable to demonstrate the good moral character required of naturalization because of the sexual abuse.  Additionally, Mr. Lekaj is subject to denaturalization because he willfully misrepresented or concealed the sexual abuse while seeking United States citizenship.
6. Talman Harris (Age 49/Jamaica): Over an eight-year period, including during his 2012-2014 naturalization proceedings, Talman Harris, a native of Jamaica, conspired to manipulate the price and volume of shares of stock in publicly traded companies, causing more than $54 million to be invested in artificially controlled shares and an ultimate loss to investors of approximately $39 million from the scheme.  In 2016, after Harris naturalized, a jury found him guilty of wire fraud and conspiring to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, with his fraudulent wire transfers and the conspiracy occurring during the period in which Harris was statutorily required to demonstrate good moral character to naturalize.  The denaturalization complaint against Harris alleges that, during the period in which he was statutorily required to demonstrate good moral character, he committed a crime involving moral turpitude, committed unlawful acts that adversely reflected on his moral character, and falsely testified about his crime.  The complaint additionally alleges that Harris willfully misrepresented the material fact of his crimes during his naturalization proceedings.
7. Armando Mendoza (Age 39/Mexico): Before Mendoza naturalized, he began knowingly receiving sexually explicit images of minors as early as 2009.  In his 2011 naturalization application and interview, however, Mendoza, a Mexico native, claimed that he had never committed a crime or offense for which he had not been arrested.  In 2013, after he naturalized, Mendoza pled guilty to the receipt of such images.  The denaturalization complaint against Mendoza alleges that, during the period in which he was statutorily required to demonstrate good moral character, Mendoza was precluded from doing so because he had committed a crime involving moral turpitude, committed unlawful acts that adversely reflected on his moral character, and falsely testified about his crime.  Additionally, the complaint alleges that Mendoza willfully misrepresented the material fact of his crime during his naturalization proceedings.
8. Neeraj Sharma (Age 50/India): Neeraj Sharma, a native of India, was both the owner and chief executive officer of Magnavision LLC, a staffing company located in New Jersey.  As an officer of Magnavision LLC, Sharma signed and filed eleven fraudulent H-1B visa petitions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”).  Each petition included false representations that the visa beneficiaries would be employed with a particular global financial institution, and also included letters on official corporate letterhead with forged signatures of the executives. In 2017,  Sharma applied for naturalization, and under penalty of perjury, falsely asserted that he had never:  (a) committed a crime or offense for which he was not arrested; (b) given any U.S. Government officials any information or documentation that was false or misleading; and (c) lied to any U.S. Government official to gain immigration benefits.  Based on these material falsehoods, USCIS approved his application, and Defendant became a U.S. citizen in December 2017.  Subsequently, Defendant was convicted of Fraud and Misuse of Visas, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1546, with the date of offense between April 25, 2015, through April 27, 2017.  The United States seeks to revoke Defendant’s naturalization, pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1451(a), as an alien who illegally procured his naturalization by:  (1) failing to disclose unlawful acts; (2) providing false testimony; and (3) concealment of a material fact and willful misrepresentation.
9. Federico Michel Fermin (Age 54/Dominican Republic): From September 2004 through August 2005, Federico Michel Fermin, a native of the Dominican Republic, conspired with others to distribute more than $1.7 million in prescription drugs wholesale without a license.  As part of the criminal conspiracy, Fermin altered drug packaging and caused it to be altered so that the prescription drugs that were distributed to pharmacies would appear to have been purchased from persons who were licensed to distribute them.  On May 12, 2011, a jury convicted Fermin of conspiracy to distribute prescription drugs wholesale without a license, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371.  He was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment.  However, during his naturalization process, Fermin represented, under penalty of perjury, that he had never knowingly committed any crime for which he had not been arrested and testified under oath to the same at his naturalization interview.  Accordingly, Fermin illegally procured is naturalization as a United States citizen because he misrepresented and concealed facts that were material to determining his eligibility for naturalization.
10. Abdikadir Ali Kadiye (Age 54/Somalia): On June 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota filed a civil denaturalization complaint in District of Minnesota against Abdikadir Ali Kadiye. Beginning in April of 1997, Kadiye sought admission to the United States by filing applications under two separate identities. Kadiye initially sought admission to the United States under the identity Liban M. Degel and he claimed that he was married with no children. After an immigration judge denied his application for immigration benefits, Kadiye submitted a second application under the identity of Abdikadir Ali Kadiye. After his naturalization, Kadiye admitted to a customs and border patrol agent that he had previously used two identities for admission for admission.
11. Victor San Shing Kwok (Age 50/People’s Republic of China): On June 4, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney for the District of the Northern District of Georgia filed a civil denaturalization complaint against Victor San Shing Kwon in the Northern District of Georgia. In September 1994, Kwok sought admission to the United States under the identity of Xin Cheng Guo. After an immigration judge denied his application for an immigration benefit, Kwok sought admission to the United States by marrying a U.S. citizen. In his application to adjust his resident status, Kwok failed to disclose the prior denial of his prior application for an immigration benefit and his pending order of removal. There is no record that Kwok departed the United States as ordered by the immigration judge.
12. Louise Hunkporti (Age 64/Congo): In 1995, Hunkporti applied for and was denied an immigration benefit. When he was denied the immigration benefit, Hunkporti adopted a new identity and submitted a falsified application using the new identity. Hunkporti naturalized as a U.S. citizen on March 2, 2010 under the adopted identity. After USCIS digitized its paper fingerprint cards, the U.S. Department of Justice discovered that the fingerprints Hunkporti submitted when she naturalized matched those she submitted when she applied for the immigration benefit in 1995. The complaint alleges eight counts for her numerous misrepresentations and unlawful acts that adversely reflect her moral character.
13. Fernando Cristancho (Age 69/Colombia): Cristancho, an ordained Roman Catholic priest, entered the United States as a religious worker and then used his leadership position in the church to gain access to minor victims. In that capacity, Mr. Cristancho sexually groomed and abused a minor parishioner from when the victim was 11 to 13 years old. Mr. Cristancho later admitted to the crime—and egregious conduct involving other minor victims—and pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), resulting in a 22-year prison sentence. The denaturalization complaint filed against Mr. Cristancho charges that he hid his ongoing crime from immigration officials, thereby illegally procuring his naturalization by concealing material facts and willfully misrepresenting his unlawful sexual activity and by his inability to demonstrate the requisite good moral character in support of his application. (Park/Burley)
14. Ronnie Price (Age 40/Trinidad and Tobago): Before his naturalization in 2016, 30-year-old Ronnie Price had sexual intercourse with a female who was under 16 – a statutory rape crime to which he eventually pled guilty.  During his naturalization proceedings, however, Price claimed he had never committed a crime for which he had not been arrested, he falsely testified to the same, and he concealed facts that would have uncovered his criminal activity.  The denaturalization complaint alleges that Price engaged in unlawful conduct during a critical statutory period during which he was required by law to maintain good moral character, that he provided false testimony during his naturalization interview, and that he did so in order to conceal his crimes and willfully misrepresent material facts that would have revealed his ineligibility for the privilege of United States citizenship.
15. Rodger George Gurdon (Age 55/Jamaica): Prior to naturalizing in 2011, Rodger George Gurdon, a native of Jamaica, engaged in a conspiracy to steal and resell medical products from military hospitals operated by the Department of Defense.  Gurdon likewise engaged in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 100 kilograms of a substance containing marijuana.  In 2013, after he naturalized, Gurdon pled guilty to Conspiring to Steal Pre-Retail Medical Products, Interstate Receipt of Stolen Property, and Conspiring to Distribute Marijuana, with the conspiracies occurring during the period in which Gurdon was statutorily required to demonstrate good moral character to naturalize.  The denaturalization complaint against Gurdon alleges that, during the period in which he was statutorily required to demonstrate good moral character, Gurdon was precluded from doing so because he had committed unlawful acts that adversely reflected on his moral character, and falsely testified about his crimes.  Additionally, the complaint alleges that Gurdon willfully misrepresented the material fact of his crimes during his naturalization proceedings. (McManus/Bic)
16. Jheromell Obejera Arcilla (Age 39/Philippines): On Friday, June 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland filed a civil denaturalization complaint in the United States District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland, against Jheromell Obejera Arcilla, a native of the Philippines who, prior to his naturalization, began sexually abusing the 15-year-old daughter of his biological cousin, with whom he lived. The sexual abuse lasted for over a year, during which time Mr. Arcilla successfully naturalized. In 2020, a grand jury indicted Mr. Arcilla on three counts of sexual offenses in violation of the Maryland criminal code, and in 2021, Mr. Arcilla pleaded guilty to one of those counts, sex abuse of a minor. Mr. Arcilla lied about the commission of this crime in connection with his naturalization application. The United States has brought three claims against Mr. Arcilla seeking his denaturalization, including claims that he lacked the good moral character to become a U.S. citizen and that he knowingly lied to immigration authorities.
17. Milagros Marileisis Acosta Torres (Age 40/Cuba): Before Milagros Marileisis Acosta Torres naturalized, she was part of a larger conspiracy to defraud a tribal casino in Florida.  Her husband and several others stole millions of dollars from the casino by creating false credit vouchers.  Acosta Torres subsequently engaged in various financial transactions involving the criminal proceeds to disguise the fact that they were obtained though fraud and to circumvent transaction reporting requirements imposed by federal and state law.  But in her naturalization application and interview, Acosta Torres falsely claimed that she had never committed a crime or offense for which she had not been arrested.  The denaturalization complaint against Acosta Torres alleges that she is subject to denaturalization because during the period in which she was statutorily required to demonstrate good moral character, she committed unlawful acts that adversely reflected on her moral character and falsely testified about her crime.  Additionally, she willfully misrepresented the material fact of her crime during her naturalization proceedings.

These cases were prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, with assistance from USCIS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Georgia, Northern District of Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, and New Jersey.

The claims made in the complaints are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

Attorney General James Sues Sham Arbitration Service Created to Help Predatory Merchant Cash Advance Industry

 

Rapid Ruling Marketed Itself as Neutral and Independent While It Secretly Worked with a Merchant Cash Advance Company to Take Advantage of Small Businesses Struggling to Repay Predatory Loans

New York Attorney General Letitia James today sued the online arbitration platform Rapid Ruling and its founders, Zachary Meyer and Andrew Sachs, for fraudulently presenting Rapid Ruling as a neutral arbitration forum while secretly working with the merchant cash advance (MCA) industry to stack the deck against small businesses. Rapid Ruling was created in coordination with an MCA company, which wrote the rules of Rapid Ruling’s arbitration process to favor the MCA industry. As a result, struggling small businesses who were hauled into arbitration by MCA lenders for failing to repay predatory loans almost always lost their cases. This scheme, uncovered by an Office of the Attorney General (OAG) investigation, led to thousands of judgments against small businesses struggling with crushing debt to MCA companies. With this lawsuit, Attorney General James is seeking restitution for impacted businesses, damages, civil penalties against Rapid Ruling, and a court order forcing the company, Sachs, and Meyer to stop their illegal activities.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Taking advantage of them with predatory loans and unfair arbitration proceedings is both illegal and immoral,” said Attorney General James. “Rapid Ruling and its founders worked in secret to stack the deck against struggling small businesses. The sham process they created ensured predatory lenders almost always won, while small business owners were left with crushing debt. I look forward to getting justice for the business owners and workers who were hurt by this shameful scheme.”

MCA companies provide financing for businesses by claiming to offer a lump sum in exchange for a share of a business’s revenue over time. In effect, many MCA companies operate as illegal predatory lenders with financing terms that amount to usurious loans with interest rates more than 50 times the legal rate. The OAG’s investigation found that after Rapid Ruling’s founding in 2019, MCA companies buried an arbitration clause in the fine print of their agreements requiring that all disputes with the businesses they lent to be resolved through arbitration before Rapid Ruling.

Attorney General James alleges that Rapid Ruling fraudulently marketed itself as a neutral forum for resolving disputes, with cases decided by “independent” and “impartial” arbitrators who issued rulings after reviewing evidence submitted by “both sides.” But, behind the scenes, Rapid Ruling’s arbitration forum was governed by rules that an MCA company drafted and edited, creating a process that was fundamentally biased against the small businesses MCA lenders pursued for supposed non-payment of predatory loans. The MCA companies then used the arbitration decisions they won to obtain money judgments from New York courts against struggling small businesses, giving them the power to garnish wages and seize assets.

The OAG’s investigation found that 97 percent of the approximately 3,000 arbitrations Rapid Ruling administered in its first three years of operation took place without any appearance by a small business. Rapid Ruling ruled in favor of the MCA company that initiated arbitration in nearly all of these cases. During that same time period, Rapid Ruling’s arbitrators regularly rejected small businesses’ defenses and awarded MCA companies the relief they requested, including exorbitant junk fees and padded attorneys’ fees that business owners were forced to pay. The money judgments resulting from these arbitration awards had devastating consequences for small businesses, their owners, and workers.

The lawsuit alleges that Rapid Ruling and its executives have violated New York’s laws preventing unfair, deceptive, and abusive business practices, including the Fostering Affordability and Integrity through Reasonable Business Practices (FAIR Business Practices) Act advanced by Attorney General James. The lawsuit seeks a court order preventing Rapid Ruling and its executives from operating their fraudulent arbitration business and directing them to pay civil penalties and provide restitution and damages for affected small businesses. 

Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani, FIFA and NYNJ Host Committee Announce Free Watch Party in Central Park for FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final

Central Park Watch Party Will Be Presented by Global Citizen

Free Event Will Be One of the Largest Watch Parties in the World, Bringing Together 50,000 People on the Great Lawn to Watch the World Cup Final on July 19

Announcement Comes Alongside Opening of “FIFA Arena,” A Temporary Mini-Soccer Pitch in Central Park That Will Be Open to the Public Throughout the Tournament from June 10 – July 18

Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans, Central Park Conservancy President and CEO Betsy Smith and NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry today announced a free watch party in Central Park for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final on Sunday, July 19. Tickets for the event — which will be one of the largest free FIFA World Cup 2026 watch parties in the world — will be administered by Global Citizen through a lottery system. Individuals interested in participating must register with the lottery opening up on Thursday, June 11, at 10 a.m. and closing on July 16. Doors will open at 12:00 p.m. ET and the Final match will begin at 3:00 p.m. ET.

“The World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that New Yorkers of all ages deserve to experience,” Governor Hochul said. “Over the next month-and-a-half, New Yorkers will experience the thrill of watching the World Cup in their hometown. If New Yorkers aren’t able to attend the World Cup, we’re bringing it to them, and for the Final game, New Yorkers will get to experience watching at the biggest watch party in the world in one of the greatest parks in the world.”

New York City Mayor Zohran K. Mamdani said, “You shouldn’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to be part of the World Cup. Under our administration, you won’t have to. From a free watch party for 50,000 New Yorkers on the Great Lawn to fan festivals in every borough and investments that help small businesses share in the benefits of this tournament, we’re making sure the World Cup belongs to the people who make this city what it is. This is a once-in-a-generation event, and working-class New Yorkers deserve to experience it, celebrate it, and benefit from it.”

FIFA World Cup 2026™ NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry said, “The FIFA World Cup Final will be one of the most watched sporting events in the world, and we're thrilled that 50,000 people will be able to experience it together in the heart of New York City, free of charge. This watch party creates an opportunity for residents and visitors to be part of a truly historic moment, regardless of whether they have a ticket to the match itself. Combined with the opening of FIFA Arena, we're creating free, accessible ways for people to come together, celebrate the game, and be part of the excitement of the tournament throughout the summer. We are grateful to Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani, Global Citizen, FIFA, and all of our partners for helping make this experience possible.”

Doors for the event will open at 12:00 p.m. ET and the Final match will begin at 3:00 p.m. ET. In addition to tickets available to the general public, 20 percent will be reserved for local nonprofit organizations and NYC Service.

Backed by a $6 million investment from Empire State Development and a $3.5 million allocation from New York City, the watch party will provide 50,000 people with a free place to gather and watch the World Cup Final. iHeartRadio will serve as the official media partner for the event. National syndicated on-air personalities Charlamagne Tha God and Elvis Duran will emcee the watch party. The event will also feature live entertainment and local food vendors.

Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani and FIFA President Infantino also joined community partners to cut the ribbon for “FIFA Arena,” a temporary mini-soccer pitch in Central Park. The pitch will remain open throughout the tournament and offer free clinics, tournaments and open-play opportunities for New Yorkers of all ages.

Installed by FIFA and operated by Street Soccer USA, FIFA Arena will be open from June 10 to July 18, providing a free place to play throughout the tournament. Programming will include youth clinics, community tournaments and open-play sessions. See the full schedule of events.

This announcement complements the Governor's efforts to ensure that more New Yorkers can enjoy the World Cup. This month, Governor Hochul announced significant upgrades to the Official NYNJ Stadium Shuttle bus service for fans traveling to and from World Cup matches through reduced fares and 20 percent of bus tickets reserved for New York residents. The Governor also announced two New York State flagship World Cup Watch Experiences, taking place at Stony Brook University on Long Island and at Kensico Dam Plaza in the Mid-Hudson Region. 

In April, Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ NYNJ Host Committee announced free fan events in all five boroughs of New York City. The Governor has also announced that 12 community-based projects statewide will receive grant funding as part of the New York State Community World Cup Grant Program, including free public viewings at Silo City in Buffalo.

As part of the FY27 Budget, Governor Hochul launched NY Kicks: A $5 million World Cup Legacy Investment Fund aimed at building soccer infrastructure in disadvantaged communities across each region of the state to strengthen neighborhoods and bring people together through a shared love of the game. The FY27 Budget also includes $1 million in additional funding that will be administered by the State Office of Children and Family Services for a companion grant program for NY Kicks recipients to fund programming, equipment, training, and other operating costs that maximize use of these new facilities including uniforms, shin guards, soccer balls, and coaches.

These family-friendly events are part of New York State’s coordinated effort to maximize the 2026 World Cup's statewide and economic impact, bringing communities together to experience this historic global moment close to home while advancing long-term investments in youth soccer and community infrastructure.

Last month, Governor Hochul announced that event organizers can serve alcohol at off-site activations for the duration of the World Cup by applying for a World Cup One-Day Permit through the New York State Liquor Authority. Bars and restaurants will be able to use the World Cup One-Day Permit process to use contiguous outdoor space to host events during the World Cup as opposed to the current maximum of four days. In addition, the Governor is working with the legislature to authorize temporary expansion of permissible operating hours during the World Cup, allowing bars, restaurants and other eligible on-premises establishments to remain open whenever matches are broadcast live.

These collective efforts also build on the State’s broader strategy to maximize the economic, tourism and community benefits associated with hosting matches during the tournament. For more information, including how to sign up to be notified of future New York State World Cup announcements, visit the I LOVE NY website.