NEW YORK, USA — A former immigration lawyer has been sentenced to almost six years in jail for orchestrating a large-scale immigration fraud scheme that exploited Caribbean and different immigrants searching for authorized standing in the US.
Kofi Amankwaa, 70, was handed a 70-month jail sentence after pleading responsible to immigration fraud costs in reference to a years-long scheme involving fraudulent purposes underneath the Violence In opposition to Girls Act (VAWA).
The ruling was delivered by US District Choose Katherine Polk Failla, following a responsible plea from Amankwaa, who as soon as operated as an immigration lawyer in New York.
Fraudulent Abuse Claims
Performing US Lawyer for the Southern District of New York, Matthew Podolsky, described Amankwaa’s actions as a blatant abuse of the immigration system.
“Amankwaa made a mockery of the US immigration system and VAWA — a legislation designed to guard noncitizen victims of home abuse — by submitting hundreds of fraudulent purposes falsely claiming that his purchasers had been abused by their youngsters or relations,” Podolsky said.
Courtroom information reveal that, from September 2016 to November 2023, Amankwaa instructed purchasers to signal fraudulent Kind I-360 VAWA petitions, falsely claiming that they had suffered abuse by their US citizen youngsters. He then signed the paperwork as their lawyer, underneath penalty of perjury, with out informing a lot of his purchasers of the fraudulent claims.
Misusing Immigration Advantages
Amankwaa used these fraudulent petitions as a foundation to safe advance parole journey paperwork for his purchasers, which allowed them to quickly go away the US and return, serving to them later apply for lawful everlasting resident standing.
The prosecution argued that Amankwaa carried out this scheme with out verifying if his purchasers had really been abused, usually leaving them susceptible when their purposes have been denied attributable to fraud considerations.
Thousands and thousands Pocketed in Charges
Charging between US$3,000 and US$6,000 per consumer, plus further administrative charges, Amankwaa allegedly made thousands and thousands from the scheme. Nonetheless, complaints from purchasers led to his downfall.
In November 2023, his legislation license was suspended, and by August 2024, he was formally disbarred in New York.
Sentencing and Monetary Penalties
Along with his jail sentence, Amankwaa was ordered to serve three years of supervised launch. He should additionally forfeit US$13.3 million and pay US$16.5 million in restitution to his victims.
Authorities say the case serves as a warning to those that search to use the immigration system and benefit from susceptible people.
