CBP Officers at the Lewiston Bridge Arrest Imposter

Lewiston, N.Y. - U. S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations announced the arrest of a citizen of Nigeria on charges of false statements, misuse of a passport, and false claim to U.S. citizenship.

On April 2, CBP officers encountered a 53-year-old male at the Lewiston Bridge border crossing in Lewiston, N.Y. The subject stated he was going to Toronto to look at a vehicle for possible purchase, however, his entry into Canada was denied. The subject presented a U.S. passport and claimed to be a U.S. citizen. The subject was referred to CBP secondary for verification of his citizenship.

During the secondary exam, CBP officers noticed that the subject had different physical features than the presented passport photo. During the interview the subject admitted that the passport was not his and admitted his true identity as Rotimi Adetunji, a 53-year-old citizen of Nigeria. Adetunji’s fingerprints were also queried to confirm his true identity.

Adetunji was arrested by CBP officers and charged with false statements, misuse of a passport, and false claim to U.S. citizenship. Adetunji is currently being detained at the Niagara County Jail pending prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.