A 29-year-old Ghanaian, Linford Atakora, has been sentenced to about nine months in prison in the United States for fraudulently using a relative’s Social Security number to obtain employment.
Atakora was sentenced by US District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland after being convicted of the felony offence of misusing a Social Security number. The sentence includes time he has already spent in federal custody.
The court also ordered his removal from the United States to Ghana, according to a statement issued by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota on Tuesday, October 20.
Court documents indicate that Atakora used the name, date of birth and Social Security number of a relative who is a US citizen to secure a job at Love & Care, Inc., a home health agency in Bismarck, North Dakota, in March 2024.
He reportedly presented his relative’s driver’s licence and Social Security card during the application process and used the same identity to complete employment and tax withholding forms.
“Atakora then fraudulently completed an IRS Form W-4 Employee's Withholding Certificate and an employee information form. Atakora did not have a valid social security number and did not have authorization to work in the United States,” the statement said.
The US Attorney’s Office said the misrepresentation led to Love & Care, Inc. improperly receiving ineligible units and claims totalling $51,435.63 from the US Department of Health and Human Services.
US Attorney for the District of North Dakota, Nicholas W. Chase, said the case should serve as a warning to workers and employers against using another person’s identity to circumvent immigration and employment requirements.
“Working under another person's identity or Social Security number to circumvent immigration work requirements is a federal crime,” he added.
Mr Chase said his office would continue collaborating with state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute similar offences.
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