Nevada Man Faces Charges Over Citizenship Fraud

A man from Nevada has been accused of illegally securing U.S. citizenship, despite having committed rape prior to and after his citizenship application. He has denied the allegations, as announced by federal prosecutors.

Kevin Jesus King is charged with naturalization fraud. Authorities claim that in his 2018 application for U.S. citizenship, he falsely answered “no” when asked if he had ever committed or assisted in a crime for which he had not been arrested or lied to officials.

Ultimately, Mr. King was naturalized in a ceremony held in Reno on June 15, 2018. He later pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, which took place around July 25, 2017, and March 18, 2018, according to court records.

“Becoming an American citizen is one of the greatest privileges our nation offers, and it should not be attained through deception or fraud,” stated Nevada District Attorney Sigal Chatta.

Chatta also added, “The defendant allegedly hid significant criminal activity while pursuing the benefits of citizenship. Our office will continue collaborating with law enforcement to uphold the integrity of the naturalization process.”

The indictment does not disclose King’s country of origin.

This case arises amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to denaturalize individuals suspected of fraudulently obtaining their citizenship, especially if they concealed serious crimes during naturalization.

Recently, the Justice Department also announced actions to revoke citizenship for 17 individuals believed to have gained their naturalization through dishonest means. These men, originating from 13 different countries, are faced with serious charges that include child sexual abuse, drug trafficking, and large-scale financial fraud.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), fraudulently obtaining citizenship can lead to a prison sentence of up to 10 years and result in automatic loss of citizenship.