Naeem Maqbool, 46, a commercial air pilot from Pakistan and resident of Canada, is done running from U.S. immigration authorities. The man who lied his way into a U.S. visa was sentenced to time served in federal court in Buffalo, closing a years-long charade built on forged documents and deliberate deception.
On September 6, 2016, Maqbool rolled up to the Peace Bridge Port of Entry waving a Pakistani passport containing a U.S. non-immigrant visitor visa — one he never should’ve had. Authorities say the visa was secured through outright fraud. Maqbool, previously denied entry on multiple occasions, submitted false information to hide his track record from U.S. officials. His goal? To sneak into the country and work — on someone else’s dime and under false pretenses.
But the lies didn’t stop at the application. Maqbool was caught with a second passport — a high-quality counterfeit. The doctored document, a replica of his expired passport, was altered to erase evidence of prior travel to the Middle East. Border agents didn’t buy it. The fake was sophisticated, but not good enough to fool U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Lamarque, who laid out the evidence before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Maqbool admitted to the fraud, and with time already served behind bars, the judge imposed a sentence that reflects the gravity of the offense — no additional time, but a permanent mark on his record and likely, a lifetime ban from U.S. soil.
The investigation was led by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Rose Hilmey, Director of Field Operations. Their forensic tracking of visa applications and document authenticity proved critical in exposing Maqbool’s scheme. This case underscores the federal government’s sharpened focus on visa fraud — especially when those trying to slip through are trained professionals with international reach.
Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. confirmed the sentencing from Buffalo, stating that attempts to infiltrate U.S. borders through falsified credentials will be met with prosecution. For Naeem Maqbool, the sky’s no longer the limit — it’s the boundary he broke, and paid for.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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