A Norfolk, Virginia man has been convicted of visa fraud and other immigration crimes, as well as tampering with a witness. Joshua Kwame Asane, 46, a citizen of Ghana, was found guilty of visa fraud related to a sham marriage and other immigration crimes, along with trying to obstruct the testimony of a witness in an official proceeding.
According to court records, Asane was indicted on July 22, 2020, for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, visa fraud, false statements in immigration proceedings, and tampering with a witness. The evidence presented at trial revealed that the marriage between Asane and a U.S. soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was arranged by Asane’s brother, Ebenezer Asane, who was previously indicted for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and has pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
Asane and the soldier were married in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and thereafter submitted fraudulent applications to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requesting Asane’s adjustment of status as a lawful permanent resident in the United States. Both Asane and the soldier attested under oath that they were married in good faith.
However, USCIS found indicators of fraud, and referred the case to USCIS, Fraud Detection and National Security, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for investigation. The jury found Asane guilty of visa fraud, false statements in immigration proceedings, and tampering with a witness, but not guilty of conspiracy and marriage fraud.
Asane faces a maximum penalty of 25 years of imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for his convictions of visa fraud, false statements in immigration proceedings, and witness tampering, when scheduled for sentencing on September 7, 2021.
The case was investigated by the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF) in the Eastern District of North Carolina, led by Homeland Security Investigations, and assisted by US Army Criminal Investigation Division and USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Diaz is prosecuting the case.
A related court document can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-00349-FL-1 & 5:19-CR-423-1FL.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Immigration Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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