RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man who federal authorities say sexually abused his stepdaughter has been stripped of his United States citizenship and will be deported to Ghana.

The News & Observer cites a U.S. Justice Department statement that says Prempeh Ernest Agyemang lied during his 2000 naturalization interview when asked if he had committed a crime for which he hadn’t been arrested. The statement says Agyemang began abusing his stepdaughter in late 1999 or early 2000, and pleaded guilty to sexual assault in 2003.

The 58-year-old has been on the state sex offender registry. The order revoking Agyemang’s citizenship was issued Aug. 8

Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler says in Monday’s statement that the government will “aggressively pursue the denaturalization of individuals who lie” during their citizenship process.

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