Ghanaian jailed in US for using relative’s identity to secure job

A 29-year-old Ghanaian, Linford Atakora, has been sentenced to approximately nine months in federal custody in the United States for fraudulently using the identity of a relative who is an American citizen to obtain employment at a home health agency.

Atakora was sentenced by US District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a felony charge of misuse of a Social Security number. The sentence accounts for time already served in federal custody.

In addition to the sentence, the court ordered his removal from the United States to Ghana.

US Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced the sentence, detailing how Atakora allegedly used his relative’s personal information and identification documents to secure employment despite lacking the necessary authorisation to work in the country.

According to court documents shared by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota, the incident occurred in March 2024 when Atakora applied for a job at Love & Care Inc., a home health agency located in Bismarck, North Dakota.

During the application process, he presented his relative’s driver’s licence and Social Security card, using the individual’s name, date of birth and Social Security number to establish his identity.

Atakora subsequently completed an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate, and an employee information form using the same information to facilitate his employment.

Court documents indicate that Atakora did not possess a valid Social Security number and was not authorised to work in the United States.

His alleged misrepresentations had financial implications for the home health agency, which, as a result, falsely received ineligible units and claims totalling $51,435.63 from the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The case highlights the legal consequences of using another person’s identity to obtain employment and access employment-related benefits in the United States.

“This case serves as an important reminder to North Dakota workers and employers that working under another person’s identity or social security number to circumvent immigration work requirements is a federal crime,” Mr Chase said.

He added that his office would continue collaborating with state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute similar offences.

The prosecution follows broader efforts by the US Department of Justice to address fraud involving public funds and federal benefit programmes.

On April 7, the department announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, tasked with investigating and prosecuting individuals involved in fraud against the American public.

The initiative supports President Donald Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a government-wide effort chaired by Vice President JD Vance to tackle fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programmes.

Atakora’s case was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek.

The court’s order requires Atakora to be removed from the United States to Ghana following the proceedings.