US Court Jails Nigerian for Using Fake Identity to Obtain Employment

A United States federal court has sentenced a Nigerian national, Atuchukwu Onyeanusi, to jail for fraud and the misuse of visas, permits, and other identification documents.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, the 32‑year‑old Onyeanusi was sentenced by District Judge Camela C. Theeler to time served, with less than six months in custody, followed by one year of supervised release.

The defendant was also required to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

A statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Wednesday noted that Onyeanusi had been indicted in December 2025 by a federal grand jury on charges of fraud, misuse of visas, false, fictitious or fraudulent documents, and aggravated identity theft.

“Onyeanusi is an alien with lawful permanent status to be in the United States,” the statement read.

The Attorney’s Office added that on November 10, 2025, law enforcement in Oklahoma conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Onyeanusi for speeding.

“Onyeanusi possessed a Texas commercial driving license bearing his image but another person’s name. Onyeanusi also possessed an employer’s identification for Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board located in Rapid City, South Dakota, with the same false name,” the statement said.

“This ID described Onyeanusi’s position as a ‘Cyber Threat Analyst,’” it added.