Kofi Amankwaa, a Ghanaian immigration lawyer based in New York is facing up to 15 years in jail for a massive immigration scam that led to losses to the state and to 1000s of unsuspecting clients.
The Bronx-based lawyer according to court papers available to GhanaWeb, ran an illegal scheme that scammed hundreds of vulnerable immigrants, leading to financial loss, deportations and denied Green Card applications.
Amankwaa, is facing charges along with his son Kofi Amankwaa Jr and his associates, Sylvester Boateng, Nana Adoma Kontoh, Betty Smith.
The defendants are accused of charging immigrant clients thousands of dollars for fraudulent services, claiming to secure Green Cards for them.
Simultaneously, the group submitted separate petitions under the Violence Against Women Act, falsely accusing the clients' children of abuse to facilitate immigration applications.
The New York Post portal referenced court documents that showed that the New York State Attorney General was seeking up to 15 years in jail for the stated offences.
Kofi and his son, Kofi Amankwaa Jr., now face up to 15 years behind bars on conspiracy and immigration fraud charges after they are arraigned in federal court on Monday (January 22), a New York Post story read in part.
US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said the father and son team “sought to make a mockery of the US immigration system.”
“Amankwaa and his son allegedly exploited the Violence Against Women Act — a law that allows noncitizen victims of domestic abuse a path to lawful permanent residence status — for their own financial gain,” Williams said in a statement.
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Catalina Cruz, Esq., a New York lawmaker who reported the case said the actions of the clique amounted to defrauding the government and stealing the American dream of families.
"This is so far from the actual truth. His egregious acts resulted in the deportation of families who went to him looking to apply the so called “right way.” He defrauded the government, the families and stole their American dream," she posted on X.
GhanaWeb checks on a New York social services website linked Amankwaa to Ghana through the fact that he was a student of a major public university located in the capital.
The portal, opengovny.com, on which his details are listed; provides open access to data issued by New York State government agencies.
This is so far from the actual truth. His egregious acts resulted in the deportation of families who went to him looking to apply the so called “right way.” He defrauded the government, the families and stole their American dream. https://t.co/baTSioXOL7
— Catalina Cruz, Esq. (@CatalinaCruzNY) January 22, 2024
What the lawsuit aims to achieve?
The lawsuit aims to halt the defendants' illegal activities, seeking restitution and damages for affected customers, along with civil penalties to the state.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has also filed a parallel criminal action against Mr. Amankwaa and Kofi Amankwaa Jr., charging them with a large-scale immigration fraud scheme.
Attorney General James emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable communities and holding accountable those who exploit and defraud immigrants seeking assistance with legal matters.
The investigation revealed a pattern of fraudulent conduct, including knowingly filing false petitions without informing clients, resulting in deportations and denied green cards.
The lawsuit further alleges that Nana Adoma Kontoh misrepresented herself as an attorney, providing unlawful legal advice and encouraging clients to lie to immigration officials.
Kofi Amankwaa Jr. was accused of providing legal advice despite not being admitted to practice law in New York.
Attorney General James urges individuals who believe they may have been victims of fraud to report complaints through the office's complaint form or by calling 1-800-771-7755.
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