Eritrean Citizen Admits Visa Fraud

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Mohammed Nurey Ibrahim, age 41, a Eritrean citizen and resident of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, pled guilty today to presenting a fraudulently obtained visa to a United States Border Patrol Agent in Champlain, New York.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Acting Director Christian J. Schurman of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.

Ibrahim admitted that he fraudulently obtained a United States non-immigrant tourist visa in September 2016 and on January 5, 2017, presented it to a Border Patrol Agent in Champlain as he attempted to illegally cross the border in order to claim asylum in Canada.

As a result of his conviction, Ibrahim faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Border Patrol, and Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Horsman.