Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements

BUFFALO, N.Y.– U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Abdi Ali Kulmie, 47, of Toronto, Ontario, pleaded guilty to making false statements to a Customs and Border Protection Officer before Chief U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony M. Bruce, who is handling the case, stated that on October 27, 2012, the defendant attempted to enter the United States from Canada at the Peace Bridge. When questioned by Customs and Border Protection officers, Kulmie indicated he was a Somalian citizen, not a citizen of Canada. In fact, the defendant became a naturalized Canadian citizen in the early 1990's and is an Ethiopian.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of James T. Engleman, Director of Field Operations.