Filipino-born aunt, Air Force nephew charged in alleged U.S. citizenship fraud scheme

An alleged immigration fraud scheme involving a fake Philippine birth certificate has landed a Filipino-born U.S. citizen and her U.S. Air Force nephew in federal custody, with prosecutors claiming the bogus document helped pave the way for the nephew to obtain American citizenship.

Federal prosecutors charged Myra Paule Schulenburg, 46, and her nephew, John Paule Rivera, 30, with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud.

Rivera faces additional charges, including making false statements on immigration documents, unlawfully obtaining citizenship, and misusing evidence of citizenship.

Authorities allege Schulenburg, who was born in the Philippines and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen, falsely claimed that Rivera was her son after he entered the United States on a J-1 exchange visitor visa in 2017.

Prosecutors say Schulenburg submitted an altered Philippine birth certificate in support of an immigration petition, allegedly allowing Rivera to obtain lawful permanent resident status.

Rivera later joined the U.S. Air Force and applied for naturalization while stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.

Federal authorities allege that Rivera denied ever providing fraudulent or misleading information to immigration officials during the naturalization process.

He was granted U.S. citizenship on Oct. 11, 2022.

But the alleged scheme began to unravel when Rivera later petitioned for his real mother and submitted his authentic Philippine birth certificate.

The discrepancy between the two birth certificates was detected by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, according to prosecutors, setting off the investigation that ultimately led to the arrests.

Schulenburg faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Rivera faces up to 10 years in prison on some charges and could also be stripped of his U.S. citizenship if the government proves that it was obtained unlawfully.

The charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.