Aunt and U.S. Airman Nephew Arrested in Immigration Fraud Scheme

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An aunt and nephew from Colorado were arrested over the weekend for their involvement in an immigration fraud scheme.

Myra Paule Schulenburg, 46, was charged by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud. Her nephew, John Paule Rivera, 30, was charged with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, making false statements under oath on immigration documents, making false statements to a federal agency, unlawfully procuring citizenship, and misuse of citizenship evidence.

Schulenburg, a Colorado resident, was born a citizen and national of the Philippines and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Rivera entered the United States on a J1 exchange visitor visa in March 2017. A few months later, Schulenburg submitted a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) claiming to be Rivera's mother so he could become a lawful permanent resident (commonly known as having a "green card"). They attached an altered birth certificate from the Philippines as proof of their relationship. The petition and altered birth certificate were submitted to the USCIS National Benefits Center in Lee's Summit, Mo. to be processed. Schulenburg's petition was approved and Rivera became a lawful permanent resident.

After becoming a lawful permanent resident, Rivera joined the U.S. Air Force. He would not have been able to join the Air Force if not for his fraudulently obtained lawful permanent resident status. Because he was serving in the Air Force, Rivera was able to apply to become a naturalized U.S. citizen without having to wait the amount of time usually required. Rivera applied to become a naturalized U.S. citizen while stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. In his application, Rivera specifically denied ever giving any U.S. Government officials information or documentation that was false, fraudulent, or misleading, or lying to them to gain immigration benefits while in the United States. He signed that application for naturalization under penalty of perjury and submitted it to the USCIS National Benefits Center in Lee's Summit to be processed. With that false testimony, Rivera's application was approved and he became a U.S, citizen upon taking the naturalization oath on Oct. 11, 2022, in Springfield, Mo.

After becoming a U.S. citizen, Rivera submitted a petition with USCIS on behalf of his actual mother so she could become a lawful permanent resident. He attached his authentic birth certificate from the Philippines as proof of their relationship. That petition and birth certificate were submitted to the USCIS National Benefits Center in Lee's Summit to be processed. Rivera's petition was flagged and resulted in the investigation that led to these arrests.

The charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury who will be responsible for determining whether the defendants are guilty or not.

Under federal statutes, Schulenburg is subject to a sentence of up to five years in prison on the conspiracy charge. Rivera is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in prison on some of the immigration charges and faces the possibility of being denaturalized. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Michael J. Nichols. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office - Homeland Security Investigations, the USCIS National Benefits Center, and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations.