Federal Judge Revokes Naturalization of Violent Extortionist

Michael Pizzuti, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Italy, had his citizenship revoked due to his criminal history.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:09pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a metal handcuff or other small crime-related object, dramatically lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying a sense of gritty investigation and the gravity of revoking U.S. citizenship.A harsh, unforgiving spotlight on the tools of criminal justice, a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who seek to fraudulently obtain American citizenship.NYC Today

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has revoked the naturalized U.S. citizenship of Michael Pizzuti, a native of Italy, after finding that he had illegally procured his citizenship by concealing his violent criminal history.

Why it matters

This case highlights the U.S. government's efforts to strip citizenship from individuals who obtained it through fraudulent means, particularly those with violent criminal backgrounds that pose a threat to public safety.

The details

Pizzuti, who was born in Italy, became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2015. However, the Justice Department later discovered that he had concealed his involvement in a violent extortion scheme prior to obtaining citizenship. The court found that Pizzuti's criminal history made him ineligible for naturalization, leading to the revocation of his U.S. citizenship.

  • Pizzuti became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2015.
  • The Justice Department later discovered Pizzuti's criminal history and initiated proceedings to revoke his citizenship.

The players

Michael Pizzuti

A native of Italy who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2015, but had his citizenship revoked due to concealing his violent criminal history.

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

The federal court that revoked Pizzuti's U.S. citizenship after finding that he had illegally procured it by concealing his criminal background.

U.S. Department of Justice

The federal agency that announced the court's decision to revoke Pizzuti's naturalized U.S. citizenship.

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The takeaway

This case underscores the government's commitment to revoking the citizenship of individuals who obtained it through fraudulent means, particularly those with violent criminal histories. It serves as a warning to others who may attempt to conceal their past misdeeds in order to gain U.S. citizenship.