Lynn Man Charged With Making False Statement in Naturalization Application

BOSTON – A Lynn man was charged in federal court in Boston with making a false statement on his naturalization application.

Willian Troncoso de los Santos, 29, was charged with one count of making a false statement relating to naturalization. He was arrested on March 11, 2019, and appeared in federal court in Boston the following day. He will remain in custody pending a detention hearing.

According to the charging document, on Nov. 2, 2017, Troncoso de los Santos falsely stated in an application for naturalization that he had never committed a crime or offense for which he was not arrested; that he had never been arrested, cited or detained by a law enforcement officer for any reason; and that he had never been charged with committing a crime or offense. At the time of the naturalization interview, however, Troncoso de los Santos was charged in Lynn District Court and charged in Chelsea District Court with criminal offenses. Troncoso de los Santos was naturalized in December 2017.

The charging statute for making a false statement relating to naturalization provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Denis C. Riordan, District Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, District 1, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Weinstein of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.