Ghanaian sentenced in US for fraudulently using citizen's identity to work
A 29-year-old Ghanaian man has been sentenced to nine months in a US federal prison for identity theft and misuse of a Social Security number to obtain employment. Following his sentence, he will be deported back to Ghana.
Why it matters
The case highlights federal enforcement efforts against immigration fraud and the legal consequences of using stolen identities for employment.
A 29-year-old Ghanaian, Linford Atakora, has been sentenced by a United States federal court to approximately nine months' imprisonment for fraudulently working under the name and Social Security number of a US citizen.
According to a statement issued by the US Attorney's Office for the District of North Dakota on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, United States Attorney Mr Nicholas W. Chase announced that Atakora was sentenced by District Court Judge Mr Daniel L. Hovland to time already served in federal custody on a felony charge of misuse of a Social Security number.
Judge Hovland additionally issued an order removing Atakora from the United States to Ghana.
According to court documents, in March 2024, Atakora fraudulently used the name, date of birth and Social Security number of his relative, a US citizen, to obtain employment at a home health agency.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in