Former Randolph Man Charged with Conspiracy to Obtain a Passport Through False Statements

BOSTON – A Nigerian citizen, previously deported from the United States, has been indicted by a federal grand jury with conspiring to make a false statement in an application for a United States passport.  

Chukwunonso “Nonso” Obiora, 36, formerly of Randolph, was indicted on one count of conspiracy. Obiora was previously charged by complaint and detained in October 2023. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

According to the indictment, Obiora and one of his brothers allegedly agreed to submit a fraudulent application for a United States passport. Specifically, it is alleged that in May 2023, the brother falsely reported that he had lost his passport and completed an application for a new passport at a United States Postal Service facility in Watertown. The application allegedly bore the brother’s name and Obiora’s photograph. It is alleged that, in or about August 2023, the brother mailed the passport to Obiora in Nigeria. 

The charge of conspiracy to obtain a United States passport through false statements carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.