NEW BERN, N.C. – In a shocking case of corruption, ex-Fort Bragg soldier Samuel Manu Agyapong, 34, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for theft of government property, tampering with a witness, visa fraud, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, and aiding and abetting naturalization fraud.
Agyapong was found guilty by a federal jury on July 2, 2021, after a tipster alerted the Fort Bragg U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) that he was engaged in a sham marriage with Barbara Oppong, a citizen of Ghana who was unlawfully present in the U.S.
The scheme, which began in January 2015, involved Agyapong agreeing to engage in the sham marriage in order to obtain Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for him and a lawful permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card, for Oppong.
Agyapong and Oppong submitted fraudulent applications to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requesting Oppong’s adjustment of status as a lawful permanent resident in the United States, which she received. Based on the fraudulent marriage, Agyapong filed for BAH with the U.S. Army and over the course of the scheme he illegally profited over $110,000.
As part of his sentence, Agyapong was ordered to pay $110,948.29 in restitution to the U.S. Army. The investigation of these cases is ongoing and being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Criminal Investigation Detachment at Fort Bragg and the EDNC Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel Diaz prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-CR-00423-FL.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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