A 29-year-old Ghanaian national, Linford Atakora, has been sentenced to approximately nine months in federal prison in the United States after illegally using an American citizen’s identity and Social Security number to secure employment.

In another major blow, a federal judge has ordered his removal from the United States to Ghana following his conviction for misuse of a Social Security number.

The sentence was announced on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota.

According to federal prosecutors, Atakora received a sentence equivalent to the time he had already spent in federal custody, meaning his approximately nine-month prison term had been served.

How the Identity Fraud Unfolded

Court documents revealed that Atakora used the personal information of a relative who is a United States citizen to obtain employment at Love & Care Inc., a home healthcare agency in Bismarck, North Dakota, in March 2024.

Investigators established that he presented his relative’s driver’s license and Social Security card during the recruitment process.

He subsequently completed employment documentation, including an Internal Revenue Service Form W-4, using the borrowed identity.

Federal authorities disclosed that Atakora neither possessed a valid Social Security number of his own nor had legal authorization to work in the United States.

His actions reportedly resulted in the healthcare company improperly receiving $51,435.63 in payments associated with ineligible Health and Human Services claims.

US Judge Orders Deportation to Ghana

United States District Judge Daniel L. Hovland imposed the sentence and ordered Atakora’s removal to Ghana.

US Attorney Nicholas W. Chase emphasized that using another person’s identity to bypass American employment and immigration requirements constitutes a federal offense.

He further indicated that federal authorities would continue pursuing individuals involved in identity-related employment fraud.

The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, while Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek prosecuted the case.

Growing Concerns Over Identity Fraud

The case highlights the serious legal consequences facing individuals who use another person’s identification documents to gain employment in the United States.

Atakora’s conviction also underscores how employment-related identity fraud can expose businesses to financial and regulatory complications.

With his prison sentence already satisfied, the Ghanaian national now faces removal from the United States under the federal court’s order.