A Liberian man, Isiah Kangar, 52, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by 90 days of supervised release for immigration fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Kearney handed down the sentence which includes a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Following his prison term, Kangar will be removed from the United States.
Kangar entered the U.S. in 2009 under false pretenses by assuming his brother's identity to obtain a visa as an unmarried son of a lawful permanent resident. He secured a green card and lived in the country for over ten years using this fraudulent identity. In 2022, he attempted to apply for U.S. citizenship with documents bearing his brother’s name.
In February 2024, Kangar was indicted on multiple charges related to immigration fraud by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He pleaded guilty to three counts in November.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf commented on the case: “The defendant built his life here on a foundation of lies... His fraud on the U.S. government spanned 15 years and required not just deceit but apparent preparation and planning." Metcalf emphasized that "anyone who wants to come to our country must do so 100% legally.”
Edward V. Owens, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia, stated: “Preserving the integrity of our immigration system is essential to national security and public trust.” He affirmed that fraudulent schemes would be investigated and prosecuted through collaboration with various justice departments.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with prosecution led by Trial Attorney Chelsea Schinnour from the Department of Justice’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions section along with Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Harrell and Patrick Brown from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The case also received support from several offices within the Justice Department and Homeland Security.
