TRENTON, N.J. — A Mercer County couple pleaded guilty today in federal court to conspiring to submit fraudulent asylum applications, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Zuwairul Ameer, 61, also known as “Zuwairul Thowfeek,” and Claudette Ameer, 63, also known as “Claudette Pieries,” both of Lawrence Township, New Jersey, admitted their roles in the conspiracy before U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp in Trenton. The couple pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Zuwairul Ameer has been involved in the business of preparing fraudulent asylum applications for non-citizen clients since at least 2007. His wife, Claudette Ameer, managed the business by serving as the primary point of contact, arranging client meetings, and submitting completed applications to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
To qualify for asylum in the United States, applicants must demonstrate they have suffered persecution in their country of origin or have a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. As part of the scheme, Zuwairul Ameer met with clients, exaggerated their stories of mistreatment, and prepared fraudulent asylum applications that either falsely omitted his name as the preparer or contained exaggerated claims.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. Sentencing for the couple is scheduled for February 25, 2025.
The case was investigated by special agents from the FBI’s New York Field Office, under the direction of Assistant Director in Charge James Smith, along with immigration officers from the USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate at the New York Asylum Office, led by Director Mathew Varghese. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Webman of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.