US Airman Accused of Immigration Fraud Scheme Faces 10 Years in Prison

Authorities have arrested a U.S. Air Force member and his aunt, claiming they participated in an immigration fraud scheme.

The two are accused of cooking up a scheme wherein they posed as mother and son in order for the Airman, John Paul Rivera, 30, to fraudulently obtain a green card, citizenship and seek citizenship for Rivera’s real mother.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Rivera with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, making false statements under oath on immigration documents, making false statements to a federal agency and unlawfully procuring citizenship and misuse of citizenship evidence, according to KCTV5. The arrests and charges took place over the weekend, the DOJ said, without specifying the exact date.

The outlet said the DOJ also charged Rivera’s aunt, the 46-year-old Myra Paule Schulenberg, with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud. Schulenberg, who resided in Colorado, was born in the Philippines and later became a U.S. citizen, according to court documents cited by KCTV5.

Schulenberg faces up to five years in prison and Rivera faces up to 10 years in prison.

The Alleged Fraud Scheme

Rivera is alleged to have entered the U.S. on a J1 exchange visitor visa in March 2017.

The same year, Schulenberg allegedly submitted a petition to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agency U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and claimed to be Rivera’s mother, using an altered birth certificate in order to get him a green card.

Court documents said authorities approved the petition, meaning Rivera became a lawful permanent resident.

Rivera then joined the Air Force and used this status to fast track an application for naturalization as a U.S. citizen, the documents said. He became a U.S. citizen on Oct. 11, 2022, in Sprinfield, Mo.

Then, the DOJ accused Rivera of filing a petition with USCIC to help his real mother become a lawful permanent resident. He used his authentic birth certificate as proof of their relationship and authorities noticed this discrepancy, leading to them arresting Schulenberg and Rivera.

Military.com reached out to the DOJ and DHS for comment.

Rivera’s Military Background

Rivera was stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, which is located in west-central Missouri, near the city of Knob Noster. The base, which opened in 1942 during World War II, is known for operating the 509th Bomb Wing and B-2 Spirit aircraft.

Rivera would not have been able to join the Air Force if he had not obtained permanent resident status.

Immigration enforcement remains a major priority under President Donald Trump’s second administration. Multiple military agencies have been enlisted to stop illegal immigration.

More broadly, federal agencies investigate tens of thousands of suspected immigration fraud cases annually, but do not collect official data regarding the official total cases.

Marriage fraud is the most frequent offense, according to USCIS data, and drives some 75% of their investigations. Other common types of fraud include document forgery and identity theft.