Kenyan National Indicted in U.S. Student‑Aid Fraud Scheme

In May 2024, Francis Mogambi entered the United States after winning the Diversity Visa lottery. By October 2026, a Nebraska grand jury indicted him on ten counts, alleging that between November 2025 and May 2026 he and Kenyan associates stole the identities of U.S. citizens to enroll fictitious students in American colleges. The fake students received federal financial aid, which Mogambi diverted, keeping 30% and sending the rest to his Kenyan associates. Prosecutors say the intended loss in his case was $20,000 (£15,000). Mogambi was reportedly paid $2,000 a week and tried to recruit another participant, promising a business that would allow larger tax‑free cheque cashing. His indictment is part of Operation Ghostbusters, a broader U.S. investigation that has so far resulted in five indictments and 40 open cases, with hundreds of victims whose personal data was sold online for $4–$8 each. The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, led by Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald, has vowed to prosecute those who steal taxpayers’ money and exploit the student‑aid program.