Thursday, March 29, 2012
PORTLAND, Maine — A Somalia native who lied about living in refugee camps to enter the U.S. and made false claims to obtain MaineCare benefits has pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Mohdi M. Ali of Lewiston entered his guilty pleas Thursday in federal court in Portland.
Ali faces up to 10 years of imprisonment on an immigration charge and five years for false statements and social security charges. As part of a plea agreement, Ali agreed to be removed to Canada after completion of any prison term that’s imposed.
Federal officials say Ali was living in Canada when he claimed he was in refugee camps in Kenya to win political asylum in the U.S.