BOSTON, Massachusetts – In a shocking turn of events, a Ghanaian national has been convicted of attempting to procure false citizenship.
Samer El-Sayed, 33, was found guilty by a federal jury in Boston yesterday of making false statements, making false statements under oath relative to naturalization, and unlawful attempted procurement of citizenship or naturalization.
The charges against El-Sayed carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 each for making false statements and making false statements under oath for naturalization. The charge of unlawful attempted procurement of citizenship or naturalization provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
According to court documents, El-Sayed entered the United States on a non-immigrant visa in June 2008 and later entered into a sham marriage with an 18-year-old U.S. citizen in February 2009. He paid several thousand dollars to the U.S. citizen in exchange for the marriage.
El-Sayed then filed various petitions and applications with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to obtain immigration benefits. In March 2010, he was granted conditional permanent resident status. However, in 2012, he submitted false statements on a petition filed with USCIS and provided false statements under oath during an interview in January 2014.
El-Sayed will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for April 17, 2018.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, and Denis C. Riordan, District Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, District 1, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Jacobus Sullivan of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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