PHILADELPHIA, PA — Laye Sekou Camara, a former rebel leader from Liberia, has pleaded guilty to charges of fraudulently obtaining and using a green card. The plea was entered on Thursday before U.S. District Court Judge Chad F. Kenney, days before his trial was set to begin.
Camara, 46, of Mays Landing, New Jersey, admitted to all charges against him, including three counts of using and one count of possessing a green card obtained through false statements. The charges stem from his concealment of involvement in crimes during Liberia’s Second Civil War.
According to prosecutors, Camara served as a general in the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), a rebel group that fought against the government of then-President Charles Taylor between 1999 and 2003. Known by the aliases “K-1” and “Dragon Master,” Camara participated in acts of violence, including civilian massacres and the recruitment of child soldiers. However, when applying for U.S. residency, he falsely stated on immigration forms that he had no ties to paramilitary or guerilla groups and had not committed such atrocities.
Authorities revealed that Camara used the fraudulently obtained green card to apply for identification in Pennsylvania in 2017, a healthcare license in New Jersey in 2020, and employment in the healthcare sector. He was arrested in 2022 at JFK International Airport while attempting to leave the United States.
Camara now faces sentencing on May 19, 2025, with a potential maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.
“Respecting both human dignity and the rule of law is fundamental to who we are as a nation,” stated U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. “The Department of Justice is committed to working with our federal and international partners to deny human rights violators safe haven in this country.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and U.S. State Department officials stationed in Liberia.
Authorities emphasized that this case highlights the United States’ resolve to hold human rights violators accountable and prevent them from finding refuge within its borders.
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