Nigerian sentenced in US for job fraud using fake identity
A Nigerian man, Atuchukwu Onyeanusi, has been sentenced in a United States federal court for fraud involving misuse of visas and identification documents. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota announced that Onyeanusi received time served—just under six months in custody—and one year of supervised release. He was also fined $1,000 and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Authorities said Onyeanusi used a fake identity to secure a job as a ‘Cyber Threat Analyst’ in South Dakota.
What we know
- Atuchukwu Onyeanusi was indicted in December 2025 on charges of fraud, misuse of visas, and aggravated identity theft.
- He pleaded guilty on February 27, 2026 to the charges.
- On November 10, 2025, law enforcement in Oklahoma stopped Onyeanusi for speeding and discovered he had a Texas commercial driving license with his image but another person’s name.
- He used the fraudulent license and a false Social Security card to get a job at Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board in Rapid City, South Dakota.
- The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Craig County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder.
