Harrisburg Man Who Posed As Student Sentenced On Federal Passport And Social Security Fraud Charges

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Artur Samarin, age 24, also known as Asher Potts, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo in Harrisburg, to two months in federal prison on a two count indictment, which charged Samarin with passport and social security frauds. 

Judge Rambo ordered Sarmarin’s sentence to run consecutive to any local sentence he may receive.  Samarin currently is waiting to be sentenced in Dauphin County for theft by deception; conspiracy involving theft by deception; tampering with public records; conspiracy involving tampering with public records; statutory sexual assault; and unsworn falsification to authorities.  

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Samarin, a Ukrainian man, posed as a high school student in Harrisburg, and used a fictitious identity, Asher Potts, to apply for a United States passport and a social security card. 

This case was investigated by the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, the City of Harrisburg Bureau of Police and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom. 

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