Belizean Woman Found Guilty of Naturalization Fraud

Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury found Ana Zahia Gonzalez (46, Winter Garden) guilty of Naturalization Fraud. Gonzalez faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and denaturalization as a United States citizen. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 13, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

Gonzalez was indicted on November 19, 2025.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Gonzalez knowingly submitted a fraudulent divorce decree from Belize as part of her naturalization application. Gonzalez entered the United States on a visitor visa in 2006 and overstayed her authorized visit. Five years later, she married a United States citizen, who was unaware that she was still lawfully married to a Belizean man. In 2016, Gonzalez applied for naturalization as a United States citizen and falsely claimed that her previous marriage in Belize had been legally dissolved before remarrying a United States citizen.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Bianca S. Bansal and Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Flanigan.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).