Gambia Man Pleads Guilty to Misuse of Passport and Aggravated Identity Theft

        BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., announced today that Bakusa Dukaray, 38, of Gambia, pleaded guilty to misuse of passport and aggravated identity theft before U.S. District Chief Judge William M. Skretny. The misuse of passport charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two year consecutive sentence to the misuse of passport charge.

              Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie P. Grisanti, who is handling the case, stated that on May 5, 2013, Dukaray attempted to enter the U.S. at the Lewiston Bridge Port of Entry in Lewiston, N.Y. At that time, the defendant presented a Canadian passport issued to his friend. 

             The conviction is the result of an investigation on the part of Enforcement Officers of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection under the direction of Randy Howe, Acting Director of Field Operations.