According to the allegations in the Information, public filings, and statements made in public court proceedings:
From September 2016 through November 2023, AMANKWAA and others at his direction met with clients and instructed them to sign fraudulent Form I-360 VAWA Petitions falsely stating that the clients were abused by their U.S. citizen children. AMANKWAA also signed the petitions, under penalty of perjury, as the attorney preparer.
AMANKWAA used the filing of the fraudulent Form I-360 VAWA Petitions, among other filings, as a basis to request for his clients’ advance parole travel documents — documents that enable individuals without legal status in the U.S. to travel abroad temporarily and return. AMANKWAA then directed his clients, upon obtaining the advance parole travel documents, to travel abroad and return to the U.S. Last, AMANKWAA used the fraudulently procured advance parole as a basis for his clients to apply for lawful permanent resident status.
AMANKWAA carried out this illegal scheme knowing that his clients had not, in fact, been abused by their children or without ever asking whether any such abuse occurred. Moreover, AMANKWAA was often unsuccessful in obtaining lawful permanent resident status for his clients because the clients’ immigration applications were denied on the basis of fraud, among other reasons. AMANKWAA typically charged his clients between $3,000 and $6,000 for his services, plus administrative fees.
In November 2023, following numerous complaints by clients regarding the fraudulent abuse allegations, AMANKWAA’s license to practice law in the State of New York was suspended, and in August 2024, AMANKWAA was disbarred.
As part of today’s plea, AMANKWAA has agreed to forfeit $13,389,000 and pay $16,503,425 in restitution to his victims.
If you believe you or your family member is a victim of VAWA fraud perpetrated by AMANKWAA, please contact USANYS.VAWAFraud@usdoj.gov.
AMANKWAA, 70, of South River, New Jersey, pled guilty to one count of immigration fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Newark Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security for their support in this investigation.
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