Arizona man sentenced for running U.S. citizenship scam

An Arizona man was sentenced to more than five years in prison for conducting a citizenship scheme that targeted over 100 immigrants, according to the U.S. Attorney General’s Office, District of Nevada.

Douglass Lee Thayer, 70, ran the company U.S. Adult Adoption Services Inc. (USAAS), which promised to obtain U.S. citizenship for immigrants in exchange for money in 2015 and 2016. 

Thayer told more than 160 victims that he would help them get adopted by U.S. citizens, a move that would allow them to obtain U.S. birth certificates and U.S. citizenship. 

He charged clients at least $7,000 each for his “services.” Many of the immigrants had to borrow money to pay him. 

Thayer collected at least $852,355 in payments during the time he ran the fraudulent operation. 

“This individual shamefully took advantage of trusting victims, who believed in the promise of U.S. citizenship, for his own financial gain,” said Spencer L. Evans Special Agent in Charge with the FBI.

Thayer was found guilty of two counts of mail fraud after a seven-day trial in Las Vegas in April 2022. He was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Additionally, Thayer was to pay $835,355 in restitution to his victims. 

“This prison sentence should serve as a warning that taking advantage of vulnerable victims, regardless of citizenship status, will be investigated and prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada.

 “There is no price tag for U.S. citizenship. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI are committed to exposing criminal schemes and holding fraudsters seeking to capitalize on others accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” he added.