Revoked the U.S. citizenship
Kousholy Ema: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has revoked the U.S. citizenship of Michael Pizzuti, an Italy-born individual, after determining that he unlawfully obtained his naturalization through fraud and misrepresentation.
According to the court, Pizzuti committed multiple crimes involving moral turpitude and provided false testimony about those offenses during his naturalization process. As a result, he failed to demonstrate the “good moral character” required to become a U.S. citizen.
Between 1998 and 2000, Pizzuti was involved in counterfeiting money, trafficking contraband cigarettes, and conspiracy to commit mail fraud and truck theft. He was arrested in 2001, later pleaded guilty, and served 15 months in prison.
In a separate incident in 2001, Pizzuti violently extorted his financial advisor after discovering a Ponzi scheme involving his investment. He broke into the advisor’s home, held him at gunpoint, and forced him to continue the scheme until the money was repaid. He also destroyed computer records to conceal his actions. For these crimes, he was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to 17½ years in prison.
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Despite his criminal history, Pizzuti falsely testified under oath during his naturalization interview in May 2002 that he had never been arrested or committed any crimes. Based on this false statement, he was granted U.S. citizenship in July 2002.
The Justice Department emphasized that individuals who obtain citizenship through fraud especially those involved in violent crimes will be held accountable and stripped of their unlawfully obtained status.
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