Abdoulaye Barry Charged

Abdoulaye Barry, a 25-year-old Guinean national and legal permanent resident, has been charged with possessing a fraudulent passport and aggravated identity theft. The charges against Barry carry a minimum mandatory penalty of two years in prison, a maximum of 10 years, and a $250,000 fine.

According to the complaint, on February 26, 2017, Barry was found at the Rainbow Bridge with a fraudulent United States Passport card. The card, which contained Barry’s photograph, bore the name and passport card number of another individual. Barry also had a fraudulent Ohio driver’s license bearing her photograph but the name of another individual, as well as a Florida Driver’s license bearing the name and photograph of another person.

Barry was also in possession of a debit and credit card matching the name on the fraudulent Ohio driver’s license. The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is being detained pending a detention hearing on March 7, 2017, at 11:00 a.m.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the United States Department of State, under the direction of Resident Agent-in-Charge William Ferrari, Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Lamarque, who is handling the case, stated that the evidence against Barry is significant. The fact that Barry was found with multiple fraudulent documents, including a passport and driver’s licenses, suggests a sophisticated scheme to deceive and manipulate the system.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. As the case against Barry moves forward, it will be important to examine the evidence and determine the extent of Barry’s involvement in the alleged scheme. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed as more information becomes available.

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced the charges against Barry, highlighting the importance of protecting the integrity of the immigration system. The case against Barry is a reminder that immigration fraud and identity theft are serious crimes that can have significant consequences for individuals and communities.