South Portland Man Sentenced to Almost Four Years 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 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 was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby to 46 months in prison for visa fraud, possession of firearms by a non-immigrant alien,  bank fraud, and making  false statements to a government agency.   He was also ordered to pay $15,090 in restitution.  He was convicted following a jury trial on January 14, 2016.

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.

In imposing sentencing Judge Hornby said: “You’re a con man.  You’re a fraudster. …  One of the primary factors here is my obligation as a federal judge to protect the public.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department 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.