ICE Baltimore investigation leads to sentencing of Maryland man convicted of visa fraud

BALTIMORE – An investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Maryland; along with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, led to the sentencing of Douglas Anthony Eze, 55, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, for visa fraud.

Eze was sentenced May 21, to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

“Visa fraud isn’t just a paperwork violation; it’s a deliberate abuse of our immigration system and a direct threat to national security and public trust,” said Michael McCarthy, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Maryland. “It undermines the rule of law, facilitates human trafficking and labor exploitation, and disadvantages those who play by the rules to live, work, or study in the United States. When individuals or criminal networks manipulate visa programs for profit or deception, they erode the integrity of our borders, damage America’s global standing, and place additional strain on limited enforcement resources. Combating visa fraud is about more than holding bad actors accountable—it’s about upholding the fairness, safety, and opportunity at the core of the American Dream.”

According to the guilty plea, Eze, who owns Largo Financial Services, illegally entered Canada in 1991 using a fraudulent passport. After Canada issued a deportation order in 1995, Eze fled. In 1997, he resurfaced in the United States, using the name and other identifying information of a Canadian citizen.

Eze, who knew the victim, also took the citizen’s Canadian birth certificate to apply for a green card within the United States. He eventually became a U.S. citizen under the stolen Canadian identity and then changed his last name to Eze.

As a citizen under fraudulent pretenses, Eze adopted and sponsored two children for permanent residence in the United States, falsely declaring the stolen Canadian identity as his own in immigration documents for the children. Eze continued using the victim’s identity to apply for a U.S. passport, driver’s license, and membership in the Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network. The victim never gave Eze permission to use his identifying information.

ICE HSI Baltimore, Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, along with Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Washington District announced the sentence.

Members of the public with information about criminal activity in your community are encouraged to contact the Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE or complete the online tip form.

Learn more about HSI Baltimore’s mission to increase public safety in our Maryland communities on X at @HSIBaltimore.