South Portland Man Convicted on Visa and Bank Fraud, Firearms and False Statement Charges
Contact: Darcie N. McElwee
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257
Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that a federal jury in Portland found Mukonkole Huge Kifwa, a/k/a “Ndowa Adrien Lushiku,” a/k/a “Adrien Ndowa,” a/k/a “Adrien Lushiku,” a/k/a “Hugue Kifwa,” 30, of South Portland, Maine guilty today of visa fraud, possession of firearms by a non-immigrant alien, bank fraud, and making false statements to a government agency.
According to the indictment and trial evidence, the defendant was a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo who fraudulently obtained a diplomatic visa in January 2014 in a false name and by making false representations. He illegally rented a pistol and a rifle in Maine in October and November 2014 under a false name. While living in Maine between September 2014 and March 2015, he committed a series of fraudulent transactions at four financial institutions in the greater Portland area. Finally, on July 14, 2015, he was arrested and falsely told federal agents that he had never been to Canada when, in fact, he previously lived in Canada for many years.
Kifwa faces up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine on each of the visa fraud and firearms charges, up to 30 years and a $1,000,000 fine on the bank fraud charges and up to five years and a $250,000 fine on the false statement charge. He will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Departments of State, Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Portland and Scarborough Police Departments; the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office; with assistance from Canadian authorities.