A 29-year-old Ghanaian, Linford Atakora, has been sentenced to nine months in federal custody in the United States of America for fraudulently using a relative’s identity to secure employment at a home health agency.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota, in a statement on Tuesday, said Mr Atakora was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland after convicted for misusing a social security number.

Court documents showed that Mr Atakora used his American relative’s personal information and identification documents to obtain employment despite not being authorised to work in the U.S.

“This case serves as an important reminder to North Dakota workers and employers that using another person’s identity can lead to serious legal and financial consequences,” U.S. Attorney, Nicholas Chase, stated.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration—Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek.

While the sentence accounts for the time already spent in prison, the court also ordered Mr Atakora’s deportation from the U.S. to Ghana.

Court filings also indicated that the offence occurred in March 2024, when Mr Atakora applied for a job at Love & Care Inc., a home health agency in Bismarck, North Dakota.

The prosecutor noted that his misrepresentations had financial implications for the home health agency, which consequently received ineligible units and claims totalling $51,435.63 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Mr Chase said that the case highlighted the legal consequences of using another person’s identity to circumvent immigration and employment requirements.

“Our office will continue to work with our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute these types of offenses,” he added.