Man Arrested at Dulles International Airport with Fake Passport

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Kofi Kyei Asare Takyi, 44, a citizen of Ghana, was arrested Monday after attempting to enter the United States with a false passport at Dulles International Airport.

“Violating U.S. immigration law is a very serious offense, and one that has the potential to threaten our nation’s security,” said Wayne Biondi, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Port Director of the Area Port of Washington Dulles. “We hope that this criminal prosecution deters would-be impostors, and reminds them that Customs and Border Protection officers are skilled at detecting fraudsters and that we remain ever vigilant at our nation’s 328 ports of entry.”

Takyi was charged with false statements in application and use of a passport. According to allegations in the criminal complaint, on January 22, Takyi arrived at Dulles International Airport on a flight from Brussels, Belgium, and presented a false passport in the name of Michael Christopher Wilson to a CBP agent. After questioning and a search of Takyi’s baggage, CBP agents found several identifying documents, including a Georgia driver’s license; a Maryland driver’s license; a social security card all in the name of Michael Christopher Wilson. Additionally, CBP agents found a Ghanaian passport, a Maryland driver’s license, and several credit cards in the name of Michael Christopher Wilson and Kofi Kyei Asare . A finger print identification examination returned positive results which included an FBI number having multiple arrests and at least three identities. After being advised of his Miranda rights, admitted that Michael Christopher Wilson was not his true identity, and that he was a citizen of Ghana and not the United States.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Wayne Biondi, Customs and Border Protection Port Director of the Area Port of Washington Dulles, made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marina C. Fernandez is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-mj-26.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.