A 58-year-old Alexandria man was arrested yesterday for allegedly obtaining US citizenship through deception. Mergia Negussie Habteyes, a naturalized United States citizen, is charged with unlawful procurement of naturalization.
According to allegations in the indictment, Negussie told a series of lies to United States immigration authorities in the course of obtaining authority to enter the United States as a refugee, subsequently obtaining lawful permanent-resident status, and ultimately obtaining U.S. citizenship. Specifically, the indictment asserts that, when he applied for naturalization in the United States, Negussie falsely stated that he never persecuted persons because of their political opinion, and he failed to disclose that he had committed a crime or offense for which he was not arrested.
In the late 1970s, Negussie served as a civilian interrogator in the Higher 3 prison in Ethiopia during the Red Terror period. In that role, he allegedly participated in the persecution, through brutality, of individuals imprisoned because of their political opinion. Additionally, Negussie falsely stated that he never gave false or misleading information to any U.S. government official while applying for any immigration benefit and that he never lied to U.S. immigration authorities to gain entry or admission into the United States and to obtain immigration benefits.
Negussie allegedly concealed his role in persecuting Ethiopian prisoners for their political opinions during the country’s so-called Red Terror period when he applied for, and ultimately obtained, U.S. citizenship. As this case demonstrates, the Justice Department will not allow the United States to become a safe haven for human rights violators, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute those who seek to exploit our immigration system through fraud and deceit.
Negussie is charged with unlawful procurement of naturalization. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Conviction would also result in automatic revocation of Negussie’s United States citizenship as well as likely removal to Ethiopia. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by HSI with the support of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC). Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime