BALTIMORE – A Maryland man was sentenced to federal prison for visa fraud after illegally obtaining U.S. citizenship under a stolen identity, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.
Douglas Anthony Eze, 55, of Upper Marlboro, received a sentence of one year and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $20,000 fine. The case was investigated with assistance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
According to court documents, Eze—owner of Largo Financial Services—first entered Canada in 1991 using a fraudulent passport. After Canadian authorities issued a deportation order in 1995, he fled and later resurfaced in the U.S. in 1997, assuming the identity of a Canadian citizen he knew.
Using the victim’s birth certificate, Eze fraudulently obtained a U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) and eventually gained citizenship under the stolen identity. He later changed his last name to Eze while continuing to exploit the victim’s personal information.
Court records reveal that Eze used the falsified identity to sponsor two children for lawful permanent residency, falsely claiming the victim’s identity as his own in immigration paperwork. He also secured a U.S. passport, driver’s license, and membership in the Global Entry Trusted Traveler Program—all under the victim’s name without authorization.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes praised Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and USCIS for their role in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen E. McGuinn and Reema Sood prosecuted the case.
USCIS emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the immigration system and encourages reporting suspected fraud through its USCIS Tip Form.
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