DETROIT (WWJ) – A Pontiac doctor is facing federal prison time after being convicted of a scheme to create fraudulent medical documents in order to assist immigrants in obtaining U.S. citizenship.
Dr. Muhammad S. Awaisi, 64, was convicted Wednesday of several charges – including one count of conspiring to commit an offense against the United States and to defraud the United States – after a four-day trial in front of U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts.
Evidence showed Awaisi conspired with local psychologist Firoza Van Horn to create fraudulent medical documentation for immigrants seeking American citizenship, according to U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison.
The fraudulent documents were “designed to be used by citizenship applicants who were seeking medical waivers of the requirement that they demonstrate a knowledge of the English language and pass a citizenship test,” according to Ison’s office.
As part of the scheme, Awaisi conducted “sham medical examinations” and falsely purported to diagnose citizenship applicants with a variety of medical conditions. He also wrote medically unnecessary controlled substance prescriptions, including for an opioid drug, to bolster his fraudulent diagnoses, officials said.
Van Horn previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with Awaisi and is currently awaiting sentencing.
Awaisi was also convicted Wednesday of two counts each of attempted procurement of naturalization contrary to law and making and using a false document.
Awaisi faces up to 10 years in prison for each charge of attempted procurement of naturalization contrary to law and up to five years for each of the other charges, according to Ison’s office. He is set to be sentenced in December.
“Our country proudly celebrates those who immigrate to the United States and work hard to meet the citizenship requirements. Dr. Awaisi’s fraud is an affront to all those honest immigrants as well as to his most basic ethical requirements as a physician,” Ison said, per a press conference.
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