Liberian Man Convicted of Making False Statements

ALBANY, NEW YORK –Alvin Cole, age 43, a Liberian citizen residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was convicted on March 28, following a 4-day jury trial, of making a false statement and making a false claim of United States citizenship.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Steven Bronson, Area Port Director, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Trial evidence showed that on October 16, 2018, Cole was denied admission into Canada at the Saint-Bernard-de-LaColle, Quebec Port of Entry.  Due to the Canadian refusal, Cole was required to report to the Champlain Port of Entry in New York.  During immigration inspection at the Champlain Port of Entry, Cole stated that he was a United States citizen born in Philadelphia.  But Cole is a citizen of Liberia, born in Liberia, who entered the United States in 1991 on a tourist visa and never left.  Cole has resided in the United States since 1991 and he is the subject of an unexecuted removal order from June 2013.

As a result of his conviction, Cole faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D ’Agostino on July 25, 2019.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.   Cole has been in custody since his arrest on October 16, 2018.      

This case was investigated by CBP and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.