PORTLAND, Maine – Hussien Noor Hussien, 56, of Burlington, Vermont, is facing serious time after a federal jury found him guilty of a brazen scheme to illegally obtain U.S. citizenship. U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced the conviction today, following a three-day trial in U.S. District Court. Hussien was convicted of personage of another in a naturalization proceeding, procuring naturalization contrary to law, and making a false statement on a passport application – a trifecta of federal offenses.
The case, pieced together from court records and trial testimony, reveals a calculated deception dating back to 2004. Hussien initially entered the United States as a refugee, but not under his own name. He arrived using the identity of Abukar Hassan Abdule, and crucially, traveled with the wife and children of the actual Abukar Hassan Abdule. This wasn’t a simple mistake; it was the foundation of a years-long fraud.
In 2011, Hussien doubled down on the deception, applying for U.S. citizenship as Abukar Hassan Abdule. He swore under oath, both on his application and during a citizenship interview in South Portland, Maine, that his name was indeed Abukar Hassan Abdule. The lie worked. He was naturalized, becoming a U.S. citizen under a false pretense. The scheme didn’t stop there. He then applied for a U.S. passport, again using the stolen identity.
The house of cards began to crumble in 2013 when Hussien filed a petition in Vermont state court to legally change his name – from Abukar Hassan Abdule to his true name, Hussien Noor Hussien. This move, intended to legitimize his life in the U.S., instead brought the entire operation to light. Federal investigators were able to connect the dots, revealing the years of false claims and identity theft.
Now, Hussien is staring down the barrel of a lengthy prison sentence. He faces a maximum of five years for personating another in a naturalization proceeding, and up to ten years for each of the other two counts. The government is also seeking a fine of up to $250,000 on each charge. But the penalties don’t end there. By law, Hussien’s fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship will be revoked. He’s a citizen no more.
The investigation was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Office of Inspector General from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Hussien will be sentenced after the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigation report, detailing his background and potential sentencing factors. This case serves as a stark warning: attempting to game the system when it comes to citizenship carries severe consequences.
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Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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