Two Indicted on Conspiracy to Commit Marriage Fraud, Marriage Fraud, Aiding and Abetting, Visa Fraud, False Statement in an Immigration Proceeding and Preventing Testimony of a Person in an Official Proceeding Charges

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging both a citizen of Ghana, as well as a naturalized citizen of the U.S., born in Ghana who is also an active member of the U.S, Army, with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, aiding and abetting, visa fraud, false statement in an immigration proceeding and preventing testimony of a person in an official proceeding. 

According to the indictment, JOSHUA KWAME ASANE and LAWRENCE OPPONG KYEKYEKU knowingly induced U. S. citizens to enter into sham marriages with foreign-born nationals for the purpose of evading United States immigration laws and obtaining lawful permanent residence status for otherwise inadmissible foreign-born nationals. 

If convicted of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, visa fraud, false statement in an immigration proceeding and preventing testimony of a person in an official proceeding, ASANE, age 45, and a foreign student residing in Norfolk, Virginia, faces a maximum imprisonment term of 50 years, a $1,250,000 fine, a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

If convicted of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and aiding and abetting, OPPONG KYEKYEKU, age 28, of Cumberland County, faces a maximum imprisonment term of 10 years, a $500,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF) in the Eastern District of North Carolina lead by Homeland Security Investigations.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. 

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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