Naperville man admits lying to immigration authorities
A Naperville man pleaded guilty Tuesday to lying to U.S. immigration officials about his past membership in the Chinese Communist Party when he was seeking citizenship here, federal authorities said.
Lu Lin, 59, submitted a guilty plea to one count of making a false statement to an immigration officer under a deal with the U.S. attorney's office. Lin, of the 4200 block of Colton Circle, earlier in January faced a different charge of obtaining citizenship or naturalization unlawfully.
Lin reported on his application for naturalized citizenship, and in an interview with Department of Homeland Security officials, that he had never used other names and had never been a member of the Chinese Communist Party, according to the plea agreement.
But federal prosecutors said Lin had been a member of the Communist Party from 1987 to 1997 and had received an identification document identifying him as “Yeung Yung.” He said in the plea agreement the misrepresentations allowed him to be granted U.S. citizenship.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 9. Lin faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.