Homeland Security Investigations arrested a Liberian man living in New Jersey for fraudulent immigration documents.
Laye Sekou Camara, 43, living in Mays Landing, N.J., has been indicted on allegations he fraudulently used an immigration document, according to a May 6 Immigration and Customs Enforcement news release. Camara is alleged to have been a general who used child soldiers during Liberia's 1999 civil war
"HSI is committed to upholding the law, both within the United States and abroad," William S. Walker, HSI Philadelphia field office special agent in charge, said in the news release. "The defendant in this case, Mr. Camara, is alleged to have served as a high-ranking general for a rebel group that fought in the Second Liberian Civil War, all the while employing tactics of unimaginable brutality, including the recruitment of child soldiers."
Camara, also known as "K-1" and "Dragon Master," allegedly tried "to shield his violent past" after he arrived in the U.S. "by failing to disclose his affiliation with the rebel group," Walker said.
"Investigations like this one are a chief priority of the No Safe Haven mission, and HSI will continue to work tirelessly to investigate those who attempt to evade justice for crimes they committed overseas," Walker continued. "We will not allow the United States to be a safe haven for those attempting to hide from their past."
The Indictment against him alleges that in June 2011, Camara applied for a non-immigrant visa to the United States, according to the news release. On his application, Camara is alleged to have falsely claimed, among other things, that he was not a member of a tribe, had never been a member of a rebel or insurgent organization and that he had "never committed, ordered, incited, assisted or otherwise participated in political killings or other acts of violence."
Camara's application was approved and he received a non-immigrant visa, the release reported.
"As alleged in the indictment, this defendant attempted to evade accountability for his horrific involvement in Liberia’s brutal civil wars by fraudulently obtaining U.S. immigration documents," U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said in the news release. "Due to the hard work and perseverance of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, he can no longer run and hide from justice."
If he's convicted, Camera could receive a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the release.
