Evergreen Reporter

Jorge Antonio Velez-Lopez, a former priest with the Archdiocese and convicted child molester, has been sentenced for passport fraud. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell handed down a 12-month prison sentence to Velez, who is 69 years old, with credit for time already served and an additional year of supervised release. He was also stripped of his U.S. citizenship and ordered to be deported to Colombia following the completion of his sentences.

Velez initially entered the United States as a temporary religious worker in 2003 from Colombia. By November 2007, he had gained permanent residency status. In March 2013, he applied for naturalization, claiming under penalty of perjury that he had never committed any unreported crimes or provided false information during immigration processes. Following an interview and oath ceremony in May 2013, Velez became a U.S. citizen.

In September 2013, Velez submitted a passport application using his naturalization certificate and declared that no false documents were involved in the process.

However, in February 2020, authorities arrested Velez in Howard County, Maryland on multiple charges related to sexual offenses against minors. He later pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor while serving as their priest between June 2005 and June 2009. The court sentenced him to nine years in prison and mandated lifetime registration as a sex offender.

Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook emphasized the commitment of federal law enforcement agencies to protect children and prosecute individuals who fraudulently acquire U.S. citizenship: "The United States Department of Justice, ICE, and our other federal law enforcement partners will use every tool in our arsenal."

Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth stated: "This case sends a clear message to individuals who commit any type of sexual offense...we will ensure that justice is done."

The investigation was part of Operation False Haven led by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division in New Orleans. The initiative aims to identify child molesters who have illegally obtained U.S. citizenship.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case alongside Trial Attorney Devin Barrett from the Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration Litigation and Autumn Cheramie from ICE’s legal office.

Court documents are available through the Western District of Louisiana's website under specific case numbers.