New York, NY — Kofi Amankwaa, a 69-year-old Bronx lawyer, and his son, Kofi Amankwaa Jr., 37, have been arrested and charged with orchestrating a fraudulent immigration scheme that spanned over seven years. Federal prosecutors allege that the father-son duo defrauded hundreds of immigrants, advising them to falsely claim abuse under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in order to obtain green cards.
The scheme revolved around convincing undocumented immigrants, primarily victims of abuse, to submit false petitions alleging that they were abused by their American citizen children. These bogus claims were then used to request permission for travel abroad, which, when granted, assisted the immigrants in applying for legal permanent residency. The Amankwaas either knowingly participated in these fraudulent claims or failed to investigate the validity of the abuse allegations, prosecutors said.
The fraudulent petitions were often rejected, and in many cases, the immigrants involved were deported. The Amankwaas charged up to $6,000 for their services, in addition to administrative fees, further complicating the victims’ financial burdens.
This case is the latest in a string of fraudulent immigration schemes targeting vulnerable individuals seeking legal residency in the United States. The younger Amankwaa, who is not licensed to practice law in New York, provided legal advice to the clients, leading to the filing of numerous complaints.
One of the victims, Ricardo Velazquez, a father of four, was advised by Kofi Amankwaa to falsely claim abuse by his son as part of the green card application process. When Velazquez followed the advice and attempted to re-enter the U.S. after traveling to Mexico, he was detained and ultimately deported.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, confirmed the charges and emphasized the significance of this case. The elder Amankwaa had been practicing law in New York since 1996, but his license was suspended in November after receiving several complaints about his conduct.
Experts in immigration law have noted the rarity of such fraud involving the Violence Against Women Act and stressed that it can be difficult to identify, as victims may be unaware they are being exploited or may not report the fraud.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in tackling immigration fraud, especially when perpetrators target those already in vulnerable situations.
