Operation False Haven: Moore County Man Sentenced for Naturalization Fraud

RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that today, in federal court, Antonio C. Paz, age 70, a naturalized citizen of the United States, born in Portugal, residing in Moore County, was sentenced by United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, to three years’ probation with a $1,000 fine following a guilty plea to naturalization fraud. Moreover, Paz’s naturalization as a United States citizen was criminally revoked.

According to court records, on November 15, 2013, Paz fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship by making a false statement under oath regarding his naturalization application.  In response to the question, “Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested,” he answered, “No,” when in fact he had embezzled thousands of dollars from a North Carolina retirement community where he was employed as a director.

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. Agents with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations, assigned to the Document Benefit Fraud Task Force, investigated the case as part of Operation False Haven. Operation False Haven is an ongoing initiative designed to identify and prosecute child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00299-1D(3).