[url]http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/05/17/offbeat.chewed.prints.ap/index.html[/url]


PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A Nigerian who authorities said tried to gnaw off his fingertips in jail so he couldn't be identified through fingerprints pleaded guilty to identity fraud Thursday.

Olugbemia Olusajo, who was identified nevertheless, faces up to five years in prison and is likely to be deported, prosecutors said.

Olusajo and his wife were arrested last year and accused of setting up bogus credit card accounts using the names and Social Security numbers of clients of their airport cleaning business.

The scheme netted the couple nearly $145,000 in cash and merchandise, prosecutors said, and also allowed Olusajo to use a false identity to get a $49,000 mortgage.

Shortly after he was arrested, prosecutors said Olusajo tried to conceal his identity by soaking his fingers in a jail toilet, then chewing away the softened skin.

He was unsuccessful, according to prosecutors.

Olusajo has been deported once before, but he re-entered the United States secretly, authorities said.

His wife pleaded guilty in January and was released on bail. Both will be sentenced later this year, prosecutors said.