PHILADELPHIA, PA — A Liberian-born man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for orchestrating an elaborate immigration fraud scheme that spanned over 15 years, defrauding the United States government and unlawfully obtaining permanent residency. Isiah Kangar, 52, was sentenced on Tuesday, May 13, by U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Kearney. His sentence includes 90 days of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Following his prison term, Kangar will be deported from the United States.
The case against Kangar stems from actions taken in 2009 when he posed as his brother to secure an immigrant visa, initially claiming to be the unmarried son of a lawful permanent resident. Using this fraudulent identity, Kangar eventually obtained a green card and resided in the U.S. for over a decade. The deception continued when Kangar applied for U.S. citizenship in 2022, submitting documents tied to his assumed identity, including a Pennsylvania driver’s license and a Liberian passport.
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania indicted Kangar in February 2024 on charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., visa fraud, and attempted unlawful procurement of citizenship. He pleaded guilty to all charges in November.
“The defendant built his life here on a foundation of lies,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf. “His fraud on the U.S. government spanned 15 years and required not just deceit, but apparent preparation and planning. With a finite number of immigrant visas available each year, he took a spot that could have gone to someone more deserving. Bottom line: anyone who wants to come to our country must do so 100% legally.”
The investigation and prosecution of Kangar’s case were led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in close collaboration with the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and other federal agencies. Officials stressed that maintaining the credibility and integrity of the immigration system is critical to national security and public trust.
“Preserving the integrity of our immigration system is essential to national security and public trust. Fraudulent schemes that undermine lawful immigration processes will be investigated and prosecuted,” emphasized Edward V. Owens, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia.
The case was prosecuted jointly by Trial Attorney Chelsea Schinnour of the Department of Justice’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions section, alongside Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Harrell and Patrick Brown from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Assistance was also provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and other supporting divisions within the Department of Homeland Security.
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