Man Sentenced to Two Years for Using Fake Canadian Passport 16 Times

A citizen of Ghana who utilized a fraudulent Canadian passport to leave and re-enter the country 16 times was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday in Calgary. Jefferson Zormelo, whose age was reported as 22 in some court proceedings and 23 in others, previously pleaded guilty to violating the Canadian Citizenship Act.

During the sentencing hearing in the Calgary Court of Justice, Justice Karen Molle stated that Zormelo’s actions directly undermined the integrity of the national immigration system. She emphasized that the offense compromised public safety and national security while negatively impacting Canada's standing internationally.

Court documents show that Zormelo initially entered Canada on a study permit in 2021. However, authorities discovered in 2024 that he was no longer enrolled in school, leading to the issuance of an exclusion order for his removal. Instead of complying, Zormelo acquired false identification documents, including a proof of citizenship under the alias Mitchell Leblanc, which enabled him to obtain a Canadian passport in December 2024.

Over a 15-month period utilizing the Leblanc identity, Zormelo traveled internationally through major airports in Montreal, Toronto, and Halifax. His pattern of illegal border crossings ended in April when Canada Border Services Agency officers arrested him in Calgary after he presented a counterfeit permanent residency card to officials at the United States Consulate. A subsequent search of his hotel room uncovered the fraudulent passport.

Crown prosecutor Tyler Lord had requested a five-year prison sentence, emphasizing the severity of the breach. Conversely, defense attorney Devin Frank advocated for a time-served sentence of eight to nine months, highlighting his client's impoverished and abusive upbringing in Ghana.

Justice Molle acknowledged that Zormelo was motivated by a strong desire to live and work in Canada. However, she underscored that he had a choice to pursue status legally but deliberately chose to break the law. The judge also pointed out that Zormelo's sophisticated execution of the crime was an aggravating factor, noting that clever criminals present an elevated risk to public safety.

Taking into account credit for time already spent in custody on remand, Zormelo has approximately 14 months remaining to serve behind bars.