TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Mohamed Abdirahman Osman, alias Mustaf Adan Arale, 29, of Mogadishu, Somalia, was sentenced to time served by District Court Judge Rosemary Marquez for his role in a brazen immigration fraud scheme.
Osman previously pleaded guilty to two felony counts of False Swearing in an Immigration Matter. His downfall began when he failed to disclose a second identity during both his refugee application and when seeking permanent legal resident alien status, knowing full well that the truth would bar him from entry into the United States.
“We will do everything we can to preserve the integrity of the refugee application process in the United States,” said United States Attorney Michael Bailey. “Osman undermined the system and those individuals with valid claims by deceitfully obtaining his entry.”
As a result of his convictions, Osman’s refugee status was revoked, and a Judicial Order of Removal was issued, mandating his return to Somalia. On August 28, 2020, Osman embarked on a flight from Arizona, bound for his homeland. His return to the U.S. is forbidden without proper legal authority.
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is committed to investigating those who seek to undermine our nation’s security,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge for HSI Phoenix. “This case exemplifies how federal agencies collaborate to combat immigration fraud and hold wrongdoers accountable.”
USCIS Tucson Field Office Director Julie Hashimoto emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the immigration system, noting that the use of false information to gain immigration benefits carries severe consequences.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, HSI, and USCIS, with Beverly K. Anderson, Assistant United States Attorney, handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-1584-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2020-071_Osman
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Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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