A Ghanaian-Bronx-based immigration lawyer, Kofi Amankwaa, has been sentenced to 70 months in prison for his role in a fraud scheme involving fraudulent filings under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced the sentencing on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
This follows his guilty plea in September 2024 before the U.S. District Court, presided over by Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
According to court documents, Amankwaa and his associates filed thousands of fraudulent immigration applications, falsely alleging that his clients were victims of abuse by their U.S. citizen children or family members.
The lawyer is said to have done this without the consent of his clients, charging them between $3,000 and $6,000, plus administrative fees.
In November 2023, following numerous complaints from clients regarding the fraudulent abuse allegations, Amankwaa’s license was suspended, and he was subsequently disbarred in August 2024.
In addition to the prison term, the 70-year-old was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $13,389,000.
As part of his plea agreement, he has also agreed to pay $16,503,425 in restitution to his victims.
“If you believe you or your family member is a victim of VAWA fraud who may be entitled to restitution from Amankwaa, please contact USANYS.VAWAFraud@usdoj.gov,” the court directed.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky commended the outstanding investigative work of the Newark Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations.
Mr. Podolsky also thanked the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security for their support in the investigation.
This case was handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Z. Margulies led the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Samantha Roberts.
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