Case ID: f-appx_231/html/0291-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Festus Awonise ALARAN, Defendant—Appellant.
    No. 06-4729.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
    Submitted: May 30, 2007.
    Decided: July 5, 2007.
    John O. Iweanoge II, the Iweanoges’ Firm, P.C., Washington, D.C., for Appellant. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney, Michael J. Frank, Special Assistant United States Attorney, Alexandria, Virginia, for Appellee.
    Before WILKINSON, KING, and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges.
    Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
    Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
   PER CURIAM:

Festus Awonise Alaran was convicted for using or attempting to use a non-immigrant visa for entry into the United States knowing the visa to have been procured by means of any false claim or statement or to have been otherwise procured by fraud, or unlawfully obtained, in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 1546(a) (West Supp. 2007) (hereinafter “visa fraud”). Alaran was sentenced to time served, which was five months of imprisonment. On appeal, he argues that: (1) there was insufficient evidence to show he knew the visa at issue was fraudulent, and (2) the district court erred by declining his instruction on “mistake of fact.” For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

First, viewing the evidence as required, Glasser v. United, States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942), we find that there was sufficient evidence of Alaran’s mens rea or “guilty knowledge” regarding the falsity of his visa. See United States v. Oloyede, 982 F.2d 133, 137 (4th Cir.1992) (discussing guilty knowledge element); Bland v. United States, 299 F.2d 105, 108 (5th Cir.1962) (same). Second, we do not find that the district court abused its discretion in denying Alaran’s proposed instruction on “mistake of fact.” United States v. Ruhe, 191 F.3d 376, 384 (4th Cir.1999).

Accordingly, we affirm Alaran’s conviction for visa fraud. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.