Illegal aliens gets prison for claiming to be U.S. Citizen

I.C.E. News Release

October 27, 2008

Illegal alien sentenced to federal prison for misrepresenting himself as a United States citizen


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A 27-year-old Bangladeshi national was sentenced to federal prison for misrepresenting himself to be a citizen of the United States following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation. The criminal alien refused to provide his true identity in an attempt to avoid removal from the United States.

On May 29, 2008, a federal grand jury in West Palm Beach, Southern District of Florida, indicted Shochi Bhaiyan of 2654 Ravella Lane in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on two-counts of violation of 18 USC 911, falsely and willfully representing himself to be a citizen of the United States.

"ICE is committed to enforcing our immigration and customs laws as mandated by Congress," said Anthony Mangione, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Miami. "Those individuals that attempt to tarnish the integrity of our immigration system will be sought for criminal prosecution."

On May 20, 2008, Bhaiyan was arrested by the United States Secret Service for dealing in counterfeit obligations or securities of the United States in violation of 18 USC 473 and Stealing or Purloining Public Money or Property of the United States in violation of 18 USC 641. Following his arrest, he was processed by a U.S. Secret Service special agent and in the course of his processing; he represented himself to be a citizen of the United States.

On Sept. 8, 2008, Shochi Bhaiyan pled guilty to the charge in U.S. federal court before Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks. He was sentenced on Oct. 17 to eight months imprisonment, a fine in the amount of $3,000 and three years of supervised release.

Shochi Bhaiyan is subject to removal from the United States and an immigration detainer has been filed. Upon the completion of his federal criminal sentence, he will be placed in ICE custody for removal from the United States.

Assistant United States Attorney John McMillan prosecuted the case.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

Last Modified: Monday, October 27, 2008
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0810/081023westpalmbeach.htm