Romanian National Sentenced For Naturalization Fraud

Judge Revokes Defendant’s U.S. Citizenship

BOISE –Simona Rus, 36, of Ketchum, Idaho, was sentenced today to two years’ probation for unlawful procurement of United States Citizenship based on her fraudulent marriage to a United States citizen, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also revoked Rus’ citizenship and cancelled her certificate of naturalization. She pleaded guilty to the charge on November 18, 2013.

According to the plea agreement filed in the case, Rus admitted that she entered into a false marriage with a United States citizen in 2003 for the sole purpose of obtaining immigration benefits. Rus admitted that she never had a husband-and-wife relationship with her American “spouse” in the contrived marriage. In January 2009, Rus misrepresented the nature of her marriage in an application for naturalization to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Based on her fraudulent application, USCIS granted Rus naturalization as a United States citizen.

“By gaming the immigration system, Rus ultimately cheated herself out of the American dream,” said Brad Bench, special agent in charge of HSI Seattle, who oversees Idaho investigations. “The outcome of this case clearly demonstrates that our nation's immigration laws are to be respected, not ignored.”

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).