Notorious Bronx Attorney Admits Guilt in Major Immigration Fraud Scheme

Magnifying glass showing "FRAUD" on an invoice.

A Bronx attorney faces prison time and millions in restitution after admitting to a large-scale immigration fraud scheme exploiting domestic violence protections.

At a Glance

Kofi Amankwaa, 70, pled guilty to immigration fraud involving fraudulent VAWA petitions
The scheme ran from 2016 to 2023, charging clients up to $6,000 for false abuse claims
Amankwaa faces up to 10 years in prison and agreed to pay over $16 million in restitution
The case highlights vulnerabilities in the U.S. immigration system to fraud

Attorney Admits to Massive Immigration Fraud Scheme

Kofi Amankwaa, a 70-year-old former immigration attorney from the Bronx, has pled guilty to orchestrating a large-scale immigration fraud scheme that exploited protections meant for victims of domestic violence. From September 2016 through November 2023, Amankwaa filed thousands of fraudulent immigration documents under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), falsely claiming his clients were victims of abuse by family members.

The scheme involved filing fraudulent Form I-360 VAWA Petitions to request advance parole travel documents for clients. Amankwaa then directed these individuals to travel abroad and return to the U.S. using the documents to apply for lawful permanent resident status. For his services, he charged between $3,000 and $6,000 per client, plus additional administrative fees.

Bronx attorney charged with large-scale immigration fraud schemehttps://t.co/KJW4mU4bqj

— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) January 22, 2024

Legal Consequences and Broader Implications

Amankwaa’s law license was suspended in November 2023, and he was subsequently disbarred in August 2024. As part of his guilty plea, he agreed to forfeit $13,389,000 and pay $16,503,425 in restitution. The former attorney now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for one count of immigration fraud.

“For years, Kofi Amankwaa oversaw a massive immigration fraud scheme, filing thousands of immigration documents falsely alleging that his clients were victims of abuse by their children or other family members. Amankwaa’s actions undermined our U.S. immigration system, exploited VAWA—a law that allows noncitizen victims of domestic abuse a path to lawful permanent residence status—and victimized vulnerable clients in the process. Today’s guilty plea highlights this office’s dedication to holding accountable those who abuse the trust placed in them as attorneys and fraudulently use our immigration system as a tool for their own financial gain,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.

The case was investigated by the Newark Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security. It is being handled by the General Crimes Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Z. Margulies leading the prosecution.

Ongoing Investigations and Fraud Concerns

The fallout from Amankwaa’s scheme continues to unfold. His staff is currently under investigation by the state attorney general, and his son, Kofi Amankwaa Jr., faces a pending federal case on similar charges. The widespread nature of the fraud has raised concerns about vulnerabilities in the U.S. immigration system.

“Kofi Amankwaa’s victimization of clients during their immigration process is a serious violation of trust and our nation’s laws,” said HSI Newark acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas. “Thanks to our partnership with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the support of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, justice was served in this case. HSI will remain committed to protecting victims of fraud and abuse.”

Adding to these concerns, the Biden-Harris administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently restarted a paused immigration program despite fraud concerns. An internal DHS report found that the CHNV parole program was overrun with fraud, with sponsors listing fake Social Security numbers, home addresses, or phone numbers. This development has raised questions about the effectiveness of safeguards within the immigration system and the potential for exploitation by bad actors.

Victims of VAWA fraud by Amankwaa are encouraged to contact [email protected]. As the case continues to unfold, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and integrity in the immigration process, as well as the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals seeking legal status in the United States.