Ontario man attempting to enter U.S. arrested for making a false statement

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Omid Kazemimanesh, 38, of Mississauga, Ontario, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with making a false statement, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that on October 18, 2024, Kazemimanesh attempted to enter the United States at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge Port of Entry. During primary inspection, he stated he had served in the Iranian Army approximately 13 years ago, but could not provide any documentation related to the military service. As a result, Kazemimanesh was denied entry, and advised that he would need his military completion card and supporting documentation issued by the Iranian military that showed which branch of the military he had served to gain entry. On March 8, 2025, Kazemimanesh arrived at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge Port of Entry and during a secondary inspection, he was asked to provide proof of Iranian military service. Kazemimanesh provided an Iranian military service card as well as Iranian military discharge paperwork, stating the Iranian military documents were originals and were provided by the Iranian government approximately 3-4 months after the completion of his military service with the Iran Army Ground Forces. After a review of the military card, a Customs and Border Protection officer suspected the card was fraudulent. Subsequent review determined that the card was in fact fraudulent.

The complaint is a result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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