Haitian Loses US Citizenship After Red State Discovers Jaw-Dropping Fraud Scheme

A Haitian-born man who cashed in on COVID-era relief programs is now losing his American citizenship after a federal judge found he lied his way into the country’s highest privilege.

U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith ordered the revocation of citizenship for 25-year-old Joff Stenn Wroy Philossaint of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after concluding he obtained it through false statements to immigration officials, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

“United States citizenship is one of the greatest privileges our nation can offer, and it must be earned honestly,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant built his path to citizenship on false statements while stealing millions from programs meant to keep small businesses alive during the pandemic. The court’s order revoking his citizenship restores accountability and reinforces a simple principle: if you lie to obtain immigration benefits and commit federal crimes, you will lose what you unlawfully gained.”

Prosecutors said Philossaint ran a wide-ranging fraud scheme between April 2020 and May 2021, exploiting pandemic relief funds meant to prop up struggling businesses. Using companies he owned or controlled, he allegedly filed bogus loan applications and helped others do the same in exchange for kickbacks.

Authorities said the applications were packed with false claims about revenue and payroll.

In total, prosecutors said Philossaint and his associates submitted 40 fraudulent loan applications, pulling in roughly $3.8 million. Investigators estimate he personally pocketed about $549,000 through loan proceeds and kickbacks.

NEW: GOP Effort To Deport Migrant Fraudsters Passes The House

The scheme overlapped directly with his push for U.S. citizenship.

Federal officials said Philossaint applied for naturalization in February 2020, just before the fraud began. During a sworn interview on Dec. 15, 2020, he allegedly hid his criminal activity and falsely denied committing crimes or misusing public benefits. He was granted citizenship on Feb. 9, 2021.

That didn’t last.

Philossaint was charged on Sept. 8, 2022, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to launder money, and unlawful procurement of citizenship. He later pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charges, and a jury found him guilty of illegally obtaining citizenship.

He was sentenced on June 26, 2023, to more than 12 years in federal prison.

On Feb. 23, a federal court signed off on the government’s request to strip him of his citizenship, closing the loop on a case prosecutors say shows what happens when immigration fraud and federal crimes collide.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>