PROVIDENCE, R.I. – In a shocking case of immigration fraud, a Thai national has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for running a scheme that defrauded over 320 individuals of at least $400,000.
Nimon Naphaeng, 36, a native and citizen of Thailand, who resided in Wakefield, R.I., was sentenced Monday to 27 months in federal prison for running an immigration fraud scheme that defrauded more than 320 individuals, most of them immigrants, of at least $400,000, and perhaps as much as in excess of $518,000.
The scheme included the unauthorized filing of false asylum applications on behalf of individuals who did not request nor authorize the applications.
At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith ordered a provisional amount of restitution of $400,000. The final amount of restitution will be determined subject to additional victims being identified and additional court filings over the next 90 days. According to court documents already filed by the government, restitution in this matter may exceed $518,300. During the investigation, the government seized $285,789.31 from Naphaeng. The forfeited funds will be applied toward restitution for victims of Naphaeng’s crimes.
Naphaeng, who was arrested and ordered detained on February 22, 2105, faces deportation proceedings upon completion of his prison sentence.
Nimon Naphaeng’s sentence is announced by Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations for New England.
Naphaeng previously admitted to the court that from August 2014 through December 2015, for a fee of between approximately $1,500 and $2,500 per applicant, he filed false asylum applications thereby securing the right of the applicant to remain in the United States.
Naphaeng pleaded guilty on February 6, 2017, to seven (7) counts of mail fraud and two (2) counts of visa fraud.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard W. Rose and Mary E. Rogers.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Attorney’s Office. Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch thanks the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – Fraud Detection National Security Asylum Office, Newark, N.J., and the Warwick, R.I., Police Department for their substantial assistance in the investigation of this matter.
Naphaeng faces deportation proceedings upon completion of his prison sentence.
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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