Buffalo Man Charged With Lying On Passport Application

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York:

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today Lonnie Etienne Green, a/k/a Lonnie Coleman, 49, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with making a false statement in an application for a United States Passport. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on April 23, 2019, a person purporting to be the defendant submitted an application for a U.S. Passport. Green claimed that he was born in Buffalo, NY, on June 30, 1970. When asked on the application to “list all other names you have used,” Green falsely wrote “None” in the field, indicating that he had not used any other names.  During the adjudication process, two social security numbers were linked to Green. One of the number was linked to a case involving child support arrears. Additionally, a check of a law enforcement database also revealed a Tennessee Driver’’s License for the defendant in the name of Lonnie E. Coleman. When questioned at the Buffalo Passport Agency, Green falsely stated that he had never been issued any other social security numbers, and that his birth certificate had never been amended. 

Green made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Resident Agent-in-Charge Kenneth M. Haynes, and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John F. Grasso.

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.

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today Lonnie Etienne Green, a/k/a Lonnie Coleman, 49, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with making a false statement in an application for a United States Passport. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on April 23, 2019, a person purporting to be the defendant submitted an application for a U.S. Passport. Green claimed that he was born in Buffalo, NY, on June 30, 1970. When asked on the application to “list all other names you have used,” Green falsely wrote “None” in the field, indicating that he had not used any other names.  During the adjudication process, two social security numbers were linked to Green. One of the number was linked to a case involving child support arrears. Additionally, a check of a law enforcement database also revealed a Tennessee Driver’’s License for the defendant in the name of Lonnie E. Coleman. When questioned at the Buffalo Passport Agency, Green falsely stated that he had never been issued any other social security numbers, and that his birth certificate had never been amended. 

Green made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Resident Agent-in-Charge Kenneth M. Haynes, and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John F. Grasso.

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.