In the batch of felony charges filed against a former University of Kansas graduate student in the journalism school, one especially stands out: He’s accused of lying.

Goran Sabah Ghafour, 34, faces two felony counts of aggravated identity theft and one felony count of visa fraud, according to a news release from Tom Beall, acting U.S. attorney in the District of Kansas.

As a part of an immigrant visa application for former Iraqi nationals, Ghafour falsely claimed that he worked as a translator for the U.S. Army in Iraq, the release said. Alongside those claims he submitted two letters — later determined to be fake — from a pair of Army brigadier generals.

The two generals neither wrote nor signed the letters, the release said.

Ghafour’s falsified application was submitted while he was working as a teaching assistant in KU’s journalism school, the release said.

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, a spokeswoman for KU, said Ghafour graduated this May and is no longer a student at the university.

If found guilty of the three charges, Ghafour could face up to 12 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, the release said.

Ghafour is next scheduled to appear in court for a status conference regarding the charges on Aug. 16.

I report on crime and courts for the Journal-World. I can be reached by email at cswanson@ljworld.com, by phone at (785) 832-7284 or on Twitter @Conrad_Swanson.