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Date: 05-22-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Weixing Chen
Case Number: 2:18-cr-00197-PD
Judge: Paul S. Diamond
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Josh A. Davison
Defendant's Attorney: Michael J. Engle
Description:
Philadelphia, PA - Delaware County Child Predator Sentenced for Naturalization Fraud
For lying about child pornography offenses, defendant loses U.S. citizenship and is ordered back to China
Weixing Chen, 30, of Brookhaven, PA was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and three years supervised release by Judge Paul S. Diamond. Chen pleaded guilty on December 5, 2018 to one count of procuring naturalization unlawfully and two counts of making a false statement in a naturalization proceeding. The defendant will lose his United States citizenship and will be deported to China after he serves his term of imprisonment.
During the filing of his naturalization application and the interview process with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), the defendant deliberately concealed the fact that he was currently soliciting sex from minors and collecting child pornography. He also falsely claimed that he had not committed any crimes prior to applying for naturalization. In reality, before being sworn in as a United States citizen, the defendant was electronically communicating with two individuals whom he believed to be minors in order to have sexual contact with them. He was convicted of various child exploitation offenses in Delaware County in 2015 after becoming a citizen.
“An important purpose of federal immigration and naturalization laws is to ensure the safety and security of the United States,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “This defendant flouted our laws, preyed upon children, and lied about all of it to gain entry into our country unlawfully. This sentence confirms that my Office will continue to hold every person accountable who violates federal law – no matter who you are or where you come from.”
“Homeland Security Investigations will aggressively pursue cases where individuals unlawfully obtain immigration benefits, especially in a circumstance like this one, which involves a child predator,” said Marlon V. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement counterparts to investigate criminals who manipulate and exploit the immigration system and see that they are brought to justice.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Charges:
18:1425(a) - PROCUREMENT OF CITIZENSHIP UNLAWFULLY
(1)
18:1015(a) FALSE STATEMENTS IN RELATION TO NATURALIZATION
(2-3)
Outcome: 05/22/2019 34 NOTICE OF HEARING as to WEIXING CHEN - Sentencing set for 5/20/2019 has been postponed to 5/22/2019 at 9:30 AM before HONORABLE PAUL S. DIAMOND. (lk, ) (Entered: 05/22/2019)
05/22/2019 35 ORDER AS TO WEIXING CHEN THAT THE DEFENDANT AS A CITIZEN OF THE US IS REVOKED AND SET ASIDE, ETC. Signed by HONORABLE PAUL S. DIAMOND on 5/22/2019.5/22/2019 Entered and Copies E-Mailed. (mac, ) (Entered: 05/22/2019)
05/22/2019 36 ORDER AS TO WEIXING CHEN THAT FOLLOWING ANY SENTENCE IMPOSED BY THIS COURT, DEFENDANT SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THE US TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, ETC. Signed by HONORABLE PAUL S. DIAMOND on 5/22/2019.5/22/2019 Entered and Copies E-Mailed. (mac, ) (Entered: 05/22/2019)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: