Fake Birth Certificate Unravels Citizenship Fraud Case
A man became a U.S. citizen using a fake birth certificate — then accidentally exposed himself by filing a real one. Federal prosecutors in Missouri charged a Colorado aunt and her nephew with immigration fraud after USCIS spotted the contradiction. The nephew now faces possible denaturalization and up to 10 years in prison.
A Colorado woman filed a fake petition claiming to be her nephew's mother — and it worked, until he filed another petition that exposed everything. On September 2, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri announced charges against Myra Paule Schulenburg, 46, and her nephew John Paule Rivera, 30, for conspiracy to commit immigration fraud.
How the scheme unraveled
Rivera entered the U.S. in March 2017 on a J-1 exchange visitor visa. Shortly after, Schulenburg — a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from the Philippines — filed Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with USCIS, falsely claiming to be Rivera's mother. She attached an altered Philippine birth certificate as proof. USCIS approved the petition, and Rivera became a lawful permanent resident. He then joined the U.S. Air Force and applied for naturalization while stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. On his naturalization application, he swore under penalty of perjury that he had never given false information to any U.S. government official. That was a lie. USCIS approved his application, and he became a U.S. citizen on October 11, 2022.
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Naturalization: from N-400 to the Oath
The fraud came to light when Rivera filed a new I-130 petition for his actual mother — attaching his real birth certificate. USCIS compared the two documents, flagged the discrepancy, and launched an investigation. The case was investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations, USCIS's National Benefits Center, and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Schulenburg faces up to five years in prison on the conspiracy charge. Rivera faces up to 10 years on some charges and could also be denaturalized — meaning he could lose his U.S. citizenship.
What this means for the naturalization process
This case shows that USCIS cross-checks documents across petitions. A false statement on any immigration form — including the naturalization application N-400 — can lead to criminal charges, loss of a green card, and denaturalization. Signing any immigration document under penalty of perjury is a serious legal commitment. The charges in the indictment are accusations, not proof of guilt.
What to do
- If you are filing Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) or any immigration document, submit only accurate information and original, unaltered documents.
- If you are applying for naturalization using Form N-400, answer every question truthfully — false statements made under oath can result in criminal charges and loss of citizenship.
- If you suspect someone is committing immigration benefit fraud, you can report it through the USCIS Tip Form at uscis.gov.
- If you have questions about your own immigration history or past filings, consult a licensed immigration attorney before submitting new petitions.
What to do, step by step — see our guide “The Path to U.S. Citizenship”.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
Denaturalization is rare but very real, and this case is a textbook example of how it happens: a false statement on a naturalization application, signed under penalty of perjury, can void citizenship even years later. If a client has any prior immigration filing that contained inaccurate information — even filed by someone else on their behalf — they should disclose that to an attorney before filing anything new with USCIS. The risk of discovery compounds with every new petition submitted. Consult an immigration attorney to assess your exposure before USCIS does it for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the U.S. government take away someone's citizenship?
Yes. This is called denaturalization. It can happen if a person obtained citizenship through fraud or by lying on their application. Federal prosecutors must prove the fraud in court. It is rare, but this case shows it is a real consequence.
What happens if someone else filed a false petition on my behalf without my knowledge?
If you did not know about the fraud and did not participate in it, you may have a defense. However, if you later signed documents — like a naturalization application — that repeated or concealed the false information, you could still face charges. An immigration attorney can review your specific situation.
What is Form I-130 and who files it?
Form I-130 is a Petition for Alien Relative. A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files it to sponsor a family member for a green card. The petitioner must prove a genuine qualifying family relationship — such as parent, spouse, or sibling — with real, unaltered documents.
How does USCIS detect immigration fraud?
USCIS keeps records of all petitions and documents submitted over time. In this case, the agency compared two birth certificates submitted years apart and found they did not match. USCIS also works with ICE Homeland Security Investigations and other federal agencies to investigate suspected fraud.