The United States Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Florida has indicted 57-year-old Alireza Baradaran Rafii of Tampa. He is accused of naturalization fraud and making false statements under oath, according to the United States Attorney's Office.
Unsealed on Wednesday, the indictment accuses Rafii of trying to unlawfully obtain U.S. citizenship by hiding his past service in the Iranian military. During a naturalization interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Rafii falsely claimed that he had never received any military training, as reported by the United States Attorney's Office.
Alireza Baradaran Rafii, a 57-year-old from Tampa, has been indicted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for naturalization fraud and making false statements under oath. The allegations claim he was involved with the Iranian military from November 1992 to February 1994, receiving military and weapons training during that time. If convicted, Rafii could face up to 15 years in federal prison. The case is led by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, and Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan will prosecute it. An indictment indicates that a formal charge has been made, but Rafii is presumed innocent until proven guilty, as stated by the United States Attorney's Office.
