Nyle Churchwell Sentenced to 42-Month Prison Term for Passport Fraud
HOUSTON – In a shocking turn of events, Nyle Churchwell, 52, of Houston, has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in the issuance of passports for unqualified individuals. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge David Hittner, who presided over the trial.
Churchwell, a passport office adjudications manager at the Mickey Leland Federal Building in Houston, was convicted of conspiring to falsely submit and approve passport applications with substandard documentation. He also falsely documented parental identification for a minor child.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Churchwell used his knowledge and authority to conspire with others to issue passports to individuals under false identities and non-citizens of the United States. Several passport employees testified that Jamaican applicants would come in to the office and use other person’s identification and photos of their birth certificate.
The scheme was uncovered when one employee came forward and confronted Churchwell. The jury ultimately did not believe Churchwell’s defense that he was guilty only for being a nice guy and did not commit any crimes. They found him guilty on two counts of making false statements in the application and use of a passport.
Churchwell’s sentence includes 42-months in prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. He will also be required to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes.
The case was investigated by the Diplomatic Security Services with the Department of State and the Department of Treasury’s Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Suzanne Elmilady and Robert Stabe are prosecuting the case.
Churchwell, who had worked for the Department of State for several years, was placed on indefinite suspension after his arrest in September 2012. He will be remanded to custody following the return of the verdicts and will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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