Citizenship Revoked Due to COVID-19 Fraud

A man originally from Haiti has lost his citizenship following the unveiling of a significant COVID-19 fraud that totaled $3.8 million, as reported by authorities on Tuesday.

Joff Sten Roy Philosaint, 25, who resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. He faced indictment in 2022 for two counts related to wire fraud and money laundering, as specified in a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. A jury concluded that he had “obtained citizenship contrary to law.”

Investigations into the business records linked to Philosaint discovered that between April 2020 and May 2021, he and his accomplices filed 40 fraudulent loan applications, resulting in $3.8 million. According to reports, Philosaint personally gained about $549,000 from these illicit activities.

In June 2023, he received a sentence of 50 months in prison. The court commenced citizenship revocation proceedings in February 2026, based on Philosaint’s undisclosed participation in the fraud scheme from 2020.

Jason A. Redding Quiñones, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, remarked, “This defendant forged his path to citizenship through false statements while stealing millions of dollars from programs intended to keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic.” He emphasized that the court’s actions restore accountability and reiterate that lies and federal crimes to acquire immigration benefits have consequences.

Philosaint has been ordered to repay $3.85 million. Additionally, a forfeiture judgment of $673,210 was issued against him, although he contested this figure, claiming it was incorrect. In a ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit confirmed the accurate amount to be $549,226.30.