Liberian Man Convicted of Making False Statements

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK –Augustine Sneh, age 31, a Liberian citizen living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was convicted yesterday after a 2-day 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 Custom and Border Protection (CBP).

Trial evidence showed that on October 16, 2018, Sneh was denied admission into Canada at the Saint Bernard de LaColle, Quebec Port of Entry.  Due to the Canadian refusal, Sneh was required to report to the Champlain Port of Entry, New York.  During immigration inspection at the Champlain Port of Entry, Sneh stated that he was a United States citizen born in Philadelphia.  Sneh is in fact a citizen of Liberia, born in Liberia, and he is not a United States citizen.  Sneh entered the United States in 2000, has resided here since 2000, and is the subject of an unexecuted removal order from February 2012.

Sneh faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue on September 16, 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.    

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