June 5, 2008

Alexandria man pleads guilty to exporting firearms and aggravated identity theft

ALEXANDRIA - A local man plead guilty to charges relating to the illegal purchase of firearms and illegal arms trafficking. Francis K. Fosuhene, 38 of Alexandria, Va., pleaded guilty today to one count of aggravated identity theft and exporting firearms without a license before U.S. District Judge Liam O'Grady.

In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Fosuhene admitted to acquiring at least 23 firearms from September of 2005 to December of 2007.  Fosuhene acquired some of the firearms by using the name and other personal identification information of Johnnie K. Fosuhene also admitted enlisting other persons to purchase firearms on his behalf, as well as shipping at least 22 of the firearms he acquired to Ghana without a license to export.  Fosuhene took steps to conceal the guns in the shipments to Ghana by hiding them in or among other objects.  Some of the firearms were re-sold in Ghana for profit. 

Sentencing has been set for Aug. 22, 2008. Fosuhene faces a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison for the aggravated identity theft conviction, and a maximum sentence of ten years in prison for the illegal exportation of firearms conviction.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Counter Proliferation Investigations (CPI) Unit is responsible for investigating the illegal export of U.S. military products and sensitive technology.  In fiscal year 2005, ICE's CPI Unit conducted more than 2,500 investigations into the illegal export of U.S. munitions and sensitive technology, resulting in 101 arrests, 70 indictments and 86 convictions. 

This was a joint investigation involving ICE and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney Ben Hatch is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. 

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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