Ghanaian Man Sentenced to Nine Months in US for Identity Fraud Used to Secure Job

A 29‑year‑old Ghanaian was sentenced in North Dakota for using a relative’s Social Security number to obtain employment, prompting a deportation order and highlighting US fraud‑prevention efforts.

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U.S. District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland sentenced Linford Atakora, a 29‑year‑old Ghanaian national, to roughly nine months in federal custody after finding him guilty of a felony charge for misusing a Social Security number.

The court also ordered Atakora’s removal to Ghana once his sentence is completed, effectively mandating his deportation after serving the custodial term.

Atakora had applied for a position with Love & Care Inc., a home‑health agency in Bismarck, North Dakota, presenting his relative’s driver’s licence, Social Security card and personal details as his own.

Court documents show he completed IRS Form W‑4 and the agency’s employee information form using the borrowed identity, despite lacking a valid Social Security number or work authorization.

The fraudulent employment records led Love & Care Inc. to receive ineligible Medicare claims totalling US$51,435.63, roughly KSh 6.7 million, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Chase used the sentencing to warn workers and employers in North Dakota against identity theft to bypass immigration‑related employment rules, pledging continued collaboration with law‑enforcement agencies.

The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, reflecting broader Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud involving public funds.