Oyewole, who was arraigned on Friday, admitted that he assumed the identity of a murdered man so he could work at Newark Liberty International Airport — where he was a security supervisor for 20 years.
The Nigerian was arrested in May, following an anonymous letter to the PA office claiming he had used multiple identities over the years.
Oyewole, who came into America legally on a student visa in 1989 and stayed after it expired, now faces possible deportation after pleading guilty to using a fake security badge.
He was charged with identity theft when he was arrested in May, but reached a plea bargain on the lesser charge after prosecutors agreed to recommend that he receive probation.
The former charge could have seen the Nigerian face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. He will be jailed pending sentencing on October 19.
Oyewole, of Elizabeth, NJ, admitted he used the identity and identity papers of Jerry Thomas, who was shot to death outside a YMCA in Queens in 1992.
Authorities said Oyewole assumed Thomas' identity weeks before he died. Police in New York discovered that Thomas sold his documents — a Social Security card and a birth certificate — to a Nigerian cab driver, who sold them to Oyewole.
The accused said he presented Thomas' documents to airport officials and was hired. He then received ID cards that give airport workers security clearance. The Port Authority, which operates Newark Airport, said Oyewole most recently worked for a contractor that staffs access gates.
Officials said there was no evidence he faked his ID for any reason other than to live in the United States.
He supervised about 30 guards and had access to secure areas of the airport, authorities said, and had a clean record.
However, after his arrest, his bail was set at $250,000 because investigators said he may also have used other aliases.
"We simply do not know who this gentleman is," Deputy Attorney General Vincent Militello said.
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