Upper Marlboro Man Sentenced to Federal Prison in Visa Fraud Case

A Maryland man has been sentenced to over a year in federal prison for orchestrating a visa fraud scheme that began more than three decades ago and included the use of a stolen identity to gain U.S. citizenship and sponsor others for immigration benefits.

Douglas Anthony Eze, 55, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In addition to the prison term, Eze was fined $20,000 for his role in committing visa fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Court documents reveal that Eze entered Canada illegally in 1991 using a fraudulent passport. After being ordered deported by Canadian authorities in 1995, he fled the country. In 1997, Eze entered the United States using the identity of a Canadian citizen he personally knew, including the individual’s birth certificate, to apply for permanent residency. Under the false identity, Eze eventually obtained U.S. citizenship and subsequently changed his surname to Eze.

Federal prosecutors detailed how Eze continued the fraudulent scheme by adopting and sponsoring two children for immigration to the United States, again using the stolen identity in official paperwork. He also acquired a U.S. passport, driver’s license, and Global Entry membership using the victim’s information, none of which was authorized by the person whose identity was stolen.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Baltimore and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Washington. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen E. McGuinn and Reema Sood led the prosecution.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland

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