BVI Man Convicted for Fake Green Card
A federal jury in St. Thomas found 52-year-old Nigel Cooper of the British Virgin Islands guilty of possessing a counterfeit U.S. permanent resident card. The conviction follows his October 2025 inspection at U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Cruz Bay, where officers discovered the fraudulent document.
Thomas has convicted Nigel Cooper, 52, of the British Virgin Islands of possessing a counterfeit U.S. permanent resident card, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands announced. The verdict was returned on February 25, 2026, following a trial presided over by Judge Mark A.
Prosecutors said Cooper presented a valid BVI passport when he arrived for inspection at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office in Cruz Bay, St. During a secondary inspection, officers found a permanent resident card in his wallet. Although the card displayed Cooper’s name and photograph, investigators discovered the identifying number on the card belonged to a female Chinese national.
Forensic document analysis concluded the card was counterfeit, and records showed Cooper had never applied for or been issued a legitimate U.S. permanent resident card. Court evidence and interviews revealed that Cooper told CBP officers he had purchased the permanent resident card from a Missouri store in the summer of 2025.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise N. The conviction carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison; a sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
What this means for BVI residents: the case underscores that attempting to travel on or possess fraudulent U.S. immigration documents can lead to federal prosecution in U.S. territories, including the Virgin Islands. CBP routinely inspects travel documents at ports of entry, and collaboration between HSI and CBP can quickly escalate suspected document fraud into criminal cases.
Residents should be cautious about offers to buy immigration documents through third parties or overseas vendors, which can involve identity theft or other crimes. The case also highlights the practical risks to travellers. Possession of counterfeits can result in detention, criminal charges, fines, and long-term immigration consequences for non-U.S. nationals.
For those with questions about legitimate immigration status or travel documents, official guidance should be sought from lawful immigration authorities rather than informal sources. The United States Attorney’s Office provided the announcement of the conviction.
Primary source: BVI News