Congolese national sentenced to over two years in prison after impersonating his brother throughout his arrest and trial
ALEXANDRIA, Va. / Wednesday, December 17, 2025 – A Congolese national was sentenced today to two years and two months in prison for aggravated identity theft and perjury.
According to court documents, on Sept. 29, 2019, in response to a reported hit-and-run, U.S. Park Police stopped Daniel Likala Emony, 33, on the George Washington Memorial Parkway and asked Emony for his identification. Emony responded that he did not have his driver's license and provided the name and date of birth of his brother, Gregory Emony. Officers arrested Emony and issued violation notices to him under his brother’s name for driving under the influence (DUI), refusal, and hit and run.
On Nov. 12, 2020, Emony appeared in the United States District Court for a bench trial where he identified himself under oath as “Gregory Emony.” The Court convicted Emony, still under his brother’s name, of DUI and refusal. Emony failed to comply with the terms of his probation and the Court issued an arrest warrant in Gregory Emony’s name.
In April 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Court, and Probation Office learned of Emony’s deception, and a grand jury returned an indictment against him on Nov. 1, 2022. Emony was extradited from Canada on July 31 and pled guilty on Sept. 26.
“By allowing his brother to take the blame for his crimes, Daniel Emony deliberately obstructed justice and wasted crucial law enforcement resources,” Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “His deception falsely implicated an innocent person and necessitated an international extradition. This office will aggressively investigate and prosecute those who seek to evade justice through fraud and obstruction.”
The FBI investigated this case. The Justic Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Emony.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Birnbaum and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Mumma prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-201.
This release was revised on 17 DEC 25 to reflect a revised sentence from the Court.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia
