FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 21, 2008
JOSHUA KAWUKI MUWANGUZI PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on February 20, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, JOSHUA KAWUKI MUWANGUZI, a citizen of Uganda, pled guilty to possession of counterfeit documents and identity theft. Sentencing is set for June 2, 2008. He is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On October 21, 2007, MUWANGUZI arrived at the Sweetgrass Port of Entry after having been refused entry into Canada by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at Coutts, Alberta. CBSA has refused MUWANGUZI entry because he did not present a valid Canadian visa, or a current Ugandan passport. MUWANGUZI was the lawful owner and sole occupant of the vehicle in which he traveled.
At the Sweetgrass Port of Entry, MUWANGUZI presented a Colorado driver's license to an officer. The officer observed that MUWANGUZI had what appeared to be passports in his other hand. The requested to see the passports, which were two expired Ugandan passports. MUWANGUZI was then referred to secondary inspection.
A review of immigration records revealed an outstanding warrant of deportation signed on March 19, 2007. A further review revealed that MUWANGUZI had entered the United States on June 21, 2000, on a J-1 visa as an exchange visitor and overstayed his visa. On November 24, 2000, MUWANGUZI had filed an Application for Asylum (Form I-589), which was subsequently denied. MUWANGUZI filed an appeal which was rejected, and on March 19, 2007, the Department of Homeland Security issued a warrant of deportation for his arrest and deportation.
When interviewed, MUWANGUZI stated that he had applied for renewal of his Ugandan passport, but had not yet received it. 6.MUWANGUZI completed a written Immigration Declaration form on which he declared possession of $7,400 in United States currency. He wrote on the declaration form that he was traveling to Canada to visit a friend.
During a search of MUWANGUZI'S vehicle, officers found MUWANGUZI'S current and valid Ugandan passport. The current passport had been issued on February 4, 2007, and was valid through the year 2017.
Also recovered during the search was a box of documents that contained identification documents of several individuals that MUWANGUZI had altered.
MUWANGUZI faces possible penalties of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. In addition, MUWANGUZI faces an additional mandatory two year imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence, for aggravated identity theft.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Horsman prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection .
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
