The Justice Department has revoked the U.S. citizenship of Marieva Briceno after uncovering her role in a major Medicare fraud scheme. On Nov. 17, a federal judge ordered her denaturalisation, underscoring how seriously the government treats false statements made during the naturalisation process.
Briceno, a native of Venezuela, had been living in the United States for years and operated three medical clinics in the Detroit, Michigan, area. Although they appeared to be normal clinics, investigators later found that they were used to run a large-scale fraud operation.
From May 2007 to January 2010, Briceno and her co-conspirators paid Medicare beneficiaries to visit the clinics and undergo unnecessary tests and procedures. The clinics then billed Medicare for these unneeded services, submitting more than $5.4 million in false claims.
Medicare paid nearly $3 million on those claims, and Briceno personally received approximately $513,200 from the fraudulent pay-outs. The funds came from a program designed to help elderly and vulnerable individuals, making the scheme especially serious.
False Answers Given During the Citizenship Process
While the fraud was ongoing, Briceno applied for U.S. citizenship on Dec. 21, 2009. The naturalisation process requires full honesty, including disclosure of any crimes. During her application and her interview, Briceno denied committing any crime for which she had not been arrested and failed to reveal her involvement in health care fraud. These false statements allowed her to obtain U.S. citizenship on March 19, 2010.
Her criminal conduct was uncovered later. On Sept. 12, 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida charged her with health care fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1347 and conspiracy to commit health care fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1349. On March 14, 2012, Briceno pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison.
Federal officials stressed that honesty is essential in the naturalization process and that citizenship can be taken away when it is gained through lies. Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said the denaturalization of Marieva Briceno shows the serious consequences of stealing from programs meant for vulnerable citizens. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones added that cheating Medicare and hiding crimes to gain citizenship weakens trust in both the healthcare system and the immigration process.
Government Moves Forward With Legal Complaint
After Briceno was convicted, the Justice Department examined her naturalization records alongside the fraud case and found that she had hidden key information during her citizenship application. This led the department to take further legal action.
On Aug. 12, the Justice Department filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida seeking to revoke Briceno’s citizenship. The complaint explained that she was involved in a criminal conspiracy at the time of her application and failed to disclose it, making her naturalization unlawful.
The government noted that hiding crimes during the citizenship process is a serious violation, and the law allows citizenship to be revoked when it is obtained through false statements.
The case involved coordination between several federal agencies. Investigators from HSI and legal teams from ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor helped gather evidence. Deputy Chief Hans H. Chen from the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation led the prosecution, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Feeley for the Southern District of Florida.
Federal Judge Orders Citizenship Revoked After Evidence Reviewed
After reviewing the evidence, U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles issued an order on Nov. 17 revoking Briceno’s U.S. citizenship. The judge agreed that she had obtained her naturalization through illegal means by concealing her role in a major health care fraud scheme.
This ruling officially stripped Briceno of her citizenship. The decision reinforces the government’s position that fraud and dishonesty cannot be used to gain the privileges of becoming a U.S. citizen.
The Justice Department said the case demonstrates its commitment to protecting public funds and the integrity of federal programs like Medicare. It also shows that authorities can act even years after fraud has occurred if the citizenship process was abused.