Ex Philly Treasurer Convicted Of Naturalization Fraud, Embezzlement

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia's former treasurer admitted in federal court to naturalization fraud and embezzlement Thursday.

Christian Dunbar, 42, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to procurement of citizenship unlawfully and through multiple false statements; submitting false citizenship papers; and failure to file tax returns, all in connection with false statements and altered documents he submitted as part of his application to become a U.S. citizen, and failing to file his federal tax returns in three separate years.

Dunbar is the former Philadelphia City Treasurer and a former banker at a Newtown Square Wells Fargo.

Dunbar was terminated from his role as treasurer, city officials said.

According to Mayor Jim Kenney and former United States Attorney William McSwain, the charges have no connection to Dunbar's work with the city.

In May 2021, Dunbar was charged with multiple counts of filing a false income tax return and failure to file tax returns.

Earlier, in September 2020, Dunbar was charged in a 14-count indictment, charging embezzlement by a bank employee, procurement of naturalization through a false statement, procurement of naturalization unlawfully, obtaining false citizenship papers, and making false statements in support of naturalization.

During the hearing, Dunbar admitted to procuring U.S. citizenship fraudulently by providing false information about where and with whom he was living, where his child was residing, and submitting a false lease and a false W-2 tax form to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Authorities alleged Dunbar and his wife obtained United States citizenship fraudulently through "sham marriages."

Dunbar and his wife, both of whom were not United States citizens, got married to two people who were not identified Friday back in 2006. The unidentified people were United States citizens.

Authorities alleged Dunbar and his wife later got married in Senegal back in 2013.

However, in February 2012, Dunbar allegedly applied to become a permanent resident of the United States using his marriage to the citizen as the impetus.

His permanent status was granted that status in October 2012, and he then submitted paperwork to become a naturalized citizen in late 2015 and early 2016.

Authorities said Dunbar submitted paperwork for the process that listed him as married to the United States citizen.

He became a naturalized citizen in January 2016 and two months later he filed paperwork to divorce the United States citizen.

Dunbar also admitted to not filing his personal income tax returns for tax years 2015, 2016, and 2019, during the last of which he was serving as the Philadelphia City Treasurer).

"Christian Dunbar’s conduct in this case demonstrates a shocking level of misconduct for anyone, let alone a senior official with the City of Philadelphia whose job it was to oversee the City’s fiscal stability," said U.S. Jennifer Attorney Romero. "Our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of complicated public corruption cases, and hold public officials accountable."