Djanson Convicted By Jury Of 3 Counts Of Providing False Information

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Kwame Essel Djanson, a/k/a Samuel Kofi Essel, a/k/a Quarmey Gyanson Essel, age 47, of Worcester, Ma (previously of Alexandria, Va) was convicted today by a federal jury of providing false information to naturalize, obtain a passport, and to obtain a firearm.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the verdict was accepted by United States District Judge Liam O’Grady.

Djanson faces a potential maximum penalty of 25 years when he is sentenced on November 1, 2013.
Djanson was indicted on April 18, 2013, by a federal grand jury sitting in Alexandria, Va. on charges that he had committed fraud to naturalize, obtain a passport and procure a firearm. According to court records and evidence at trial, Djanson created a false identity as “Samuel Kofi Essel” to win a diversity lottery visa that allowed him to enter the United States and adjust to lawful permanent resident status.  He applied for naturalization under the Immigration and Naturalization Act and an Executive Order that allowed for stream-lined provisions for military personnel; he also sought to change his name as part of the naturalization.  On his naturalization application, and in an interview, he provided false information about his legal name and his birthdate, did not provide his previous name, and did not admit that he had provided misleading information to a U.S. official to obtain an immigration benefit.  Pursuant to an order by U.S. District Court Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr., in Norfolk, Va., the defendant became a U.S. citizen and changed his name to Quarmey Gyanson Essel in September 2003.  In October 2003, the defendant provided false information about his date of birth in an application for a U.S. Passport and received a passport that month.  In 2010, the defendant attended the Nation’s Gun Show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Va., where he filled out an ATF Form 4473 and included a false date of birth as part of a transaction to purchase a Smith & Wesson 9 millimeter pistol.

This case was investigated by the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Dina Finkel, Special Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Keim, and Assistant United States Attorney Gene Rossi are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.