DOJ Seeks to Strip Citizenship From Nigerian Fraud Convict

What Happened

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a civil denaturalization complaint — a legal action to take away someone's U.S. citizenship — against Emmanuel Oluwatosin Kazeem, a Nigerian-born man who became a U.S. citizen. The case affects anyone who wants to understand how past crimes or fraud can put naturalized citizenship at risk. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) helped investigate the case and is supporting the denaturalization effort.

Kazeem was convicted in 2017 on 19 criminal counts, including mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $12 million in restitution. In December 2024, President Biden commuted his sentence after he had served about six years, along with nearly 1,500 other people who had been under house arrest after early release during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DOJ's complaint alleges that Kazeem ran a massive identity theft and tax fraud scheme both before and after he became a U.S. citizen — and that he hid these crimes during the naturalization process (the process of applying for U.S. citizenship). The complaint also claims he entered a fake marriage to get a green card (lawful permanent resident status) before later marrying another woman. Under U.S. law, obtaining citizenship through fraud or by hiding serious crimes can make that citizenship unlawful.

How Big Was the Fraud?

According to court documents, Kazeem and his co-conspirators stole the personal information — including Social Security numbers and dates of birth — of more than 259,000 people. Kazeem bought over 91,000 stolen identities from a hacker. The group used that information to file fraudulent federal tax returns between 2012 and 2015, attempting to claim over $91 million in refunds. They successfully received more than $11.6 million. Investigators linked Kazeem directly to more than 700 wire transfers totaling over $690,000 sent to Nigeria.

What to Do

• If you are going through the naturalization process (applying for U.S. citizenship), lawyers strongly recommend being fully honest on your application — including about any past arrests, criminal charges, or immigration violations. Hiding information can lead to denaturalization later.
• If you obtained your green card through marriage, make sure that marriage was genuine. A sham marriage to get immigration status is considered fraud and can affect your citizenship eligibility.
• If you are already a naturalized citizen and have concerns about your past application, consult an immigration lawyer before any government agency contacts you.
• To report suspected immigration fraud to USCIS, you can use the USCIS Tip Form at uscis.gov.