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by News 12 Staff
A Venezuelan man who was recently convicted of child sex crimes in Wake County is now facing a federal immigration fraud charge.
Federal prosecutors say 50-year-old Francisco Javier Chacoa-Pineda lied on an application for Temporary Protected Status when he applied through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in April 2024.
According to the indictment, Chacoa-Pineda answered "no" when asked whether he had committed crimes or participated in forced sexual conduct, despite allegations that he had already committed offenses involving a child.
Later that year, a Wake County grand jury indicted Chacoa-Pineda on charges including taking indecent liberties with a child and first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
In March 2026, a Wake County jury found him guilty of one count of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. Court records show he was sentenced to as much as 11-and-a-half years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.
Federal officials say Chacoa-Pineda admitted to committing the crimes against a 13-year-old victim in 2024.
Now, prosecutors allege he also violated federal law by providing false information on immigration documents. If convicted of immigration fraud, he could face more than 10 additional years in prison.
The case is being investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations as part of Operation False Haven, an initiative focused on individuals accused of fraudulently obtaining immigration benefits.
The immigration fraud charge remains an allegation, and Chacoa-Pineda is presumed innocent of that charge unless proven guilty in federal court.
2026 Sinclair, Inc.
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