US court jails Nigerian for using false identity to secure job

A United States federal court has jailed a Nigerian, Atuchukwu Onyeanusi, over fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other identification documents.

According to the US 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, under six months in custody, followed by one year of supervised release.

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

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

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

The Attorney’s Office further stated that on November 10, 2025, law enforcement in Oklahoma conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Onyeanusi was driving for speeding.

“Onyeanusi possessed a Texas commercial driving license with 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.

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