A Pennsylvania high school honors student just months from graduation was actually a 23-year-old Ukrainian national using a false identity after his visa expired, police said Thursday.
Artur Samarin, who used the alias Asher Potts, was arrested and charged Tuesday in Harrisburg, the capital city, police said.
Samarin is accused of masquerading as a Harrisburg High School student who was a member of the National Honor Society. Samarin was actively involved at the school, working with a student advisory group on a food bank, and he was a member of the school's ROTC and Naval Sea Cadet programs.
Samarin was enrolled in the school in the fall of 2012, CBS Harrisburg affiliate WHP-TV reports.
He had a Pennsylvania driver's license in Potts' name when he was arrested, authorities said. Police believe that identity was fabricated and no one's identity was compromised.
Sgt. Terry Wealand said Thursday that police got a tip about Samarin about two months ago.
Authorities believe he was in the country for about four years, he said. Samarin enrolled at the high school as a freshman and was less than four months from graduation.
Wealand said he arrived on a temporary visa for a short stay, and he came to the U.S. under his original name. It wasn't clear if Samarin was in Harrisburg the entire time.
He apparently lived with people he befriended, Wealand said. Authorities are investigating whether anyone else conspired with Samarin on creating or maintaining his fake identity.
Samarin is accused of masquerading as a Harrisburg High School student who was a member of the National Honor Society. Samarin was actively involved at the school, working with a student advisory group on a food bank, and he was a member of the school's ROTC and Naval Sea Cadet program.
I can't imagine anyone actually willingly putting themselves through high school as an adult. You couldn't pay me enough Not him nearly completing all 4 years of high school though. That's some serious dedication
I can't imagine anyone actually willingly putting themselves through high school as an adult. You couldn't pay me enough Not him nearly completing all 4 years of high school though. That's some serious dedication
Ugh, imagine being in a Freshmen Algebra I class at 19. I would commit suicide in that classroom.
I mean, if he worked that hard to be a contributing member of society, it's a shame he couldn't just be left alone.
I have a friend who knew someone in high school that was pretending to be a high school student but was actually a 28-year old national Japanese woman running away from some sketchy **** in Japan regarding the mafia
