A 29-year-old Ghanaian, Linford Atakora, has been sentenced by a United States federal court to approximately nine months' imprisonment for fraudulently working under the name and Social Security number of a US citizen.
According to a statement issued by the US Attorney's Office for the District of North Dakota on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, United States Attorney Mr Nicholas W. Chase announced that Atakora was sentenced by District Court Judge Mr Daniel L. Hovland to time already served in federal custody on a felony charge of misuse of a Social Security number.
Judge Hovland additionally issued an order removing Atakora from the United States to Ghana.
Court documents
According to court documents, in March 2024, Atakora fraudulently used the name, date of birth and Social Security number of his relative, a US citizen, to obtain employment at a home health agency.
Atakora presented his relative's driver's licence and Social Security card when he applied for employment at Love and Care, Inc., located in Bismarck, North Dakota. He then fraudulently completed an Internal Revenue Service Form W-4 Employee's Withholding Certificate and an employee information form.
The statement said Atakora did not have a valid Social Security number and did not have authorisation to work in the United States. Due to his misrepresentations, Love and Care, Inc. falsely received Health and Human Services ineligible units and claims totalling US$51,435.63.
Federal crime
"This case serves as an important reminder to North Dakota workers and employers that working under another person's identity or social security number to circumvent immigration work requirements is a federal crime," Mr Chase said. "Our office will continue to work with our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute these types of offenses."
The statement noted that on April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, which is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mr Jonathan J. O'Konek.
