Nigerian Man Jailed in U.S. for Using Fake Identity to Get Job

A Nigerian national, Atuchukwu Markrufus Onyeanusi, has been sentenced in the United States for using fake identity documents to secure employment and commit identity fraud.

The 32-year-old was sentenced by a federal court in South Dakota after being found guilty of fraud and misuse of identification documents, as well as aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents and a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Onyeanusi used a false identity, including a fake Social Security card and a Texas driver’s licence bearing another person’s name, to gain employment in the United States.

Authorities said the fraudulent activities were discovered after a traffic stop in Oklahoma in November 2025, where law enforcement officers recovered suspicious identity documents during a search.

Further investigations revealed that the defendant had been working under the false identity in the United States before he was arrested and charged.

The court ruled that the offence involved deliberate deception for personal gain and sentenced him to time served (about six months in custody), one year of supervised release, and a monetary penalty.

U.S. authorities have continued to warn against identity fraud, noting that such offences carry serious federal penalties, including imprisonment.