Iranian National Charged With Naturalization Fraud

Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Alireza Baradaran Rafii (57, Tampa) with attempting to procure naturalization unlawfully and making false statements relating to his naturalization under oath. If convicted on all counts, Rafii faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

According to the indictment, Rafii falsely stated on his naturalization application and under oath during his naturalization interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that he had never served in, helped, or otherwise participated in a military unit, paramilitary unit, police unit, or militia, and that he had never received any type of military, paramilitary, or weapons training, when he knew that he had served in the Iranian military from November 1992 until February 1994 and had received military and weapons training.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Joint Terrorism Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan.