Naturalized Citizen Sentenced for Running Fake Passport Operation

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Kristian G. Afana, also known as Leonard M. Ovono, 36, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 12 months and one day in prison for running a fake passport scheme.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, announced the sentence handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge James L. Graham.

According to court documents, Afana would pay individuals to apply for false United States passports by using providing photographs of unknown individuals to be submitted with the passport application in the name of the applicant. Afana would drive the applicants to various post offices in Columbus in order to apply.

In total, Afana caused five fake passports to be issued after creating nine false applications.

Afana is a naturalized United States citizen from Gabon.

Afana pleaded guilty on August 31 to one count of conspiracy to make false statements on United States passport applications and one count of aiding and abetting in the making of a false statement on a United States passport application.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the Diplomatic Security Service, as well as Assistant United States Attorney David J. Bosley, who is representing the United States in this case.

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