23-yr old Ukrainian man arrested for posing as school student after his visa expired

Harrisburg Police said John Harris High School student Asher Potts was arrested at 3 p.m. Tuesday after an investigation determined he was actually Artur Samarin, 23, a Ukrainian man who allegedly assumed the identity of Potts after his visa expired. UPI news reported.

The fake 18-year-old boy had one of the highest GPAs at Harrisburg High School, was the runner-up for homecoming king and was an active member of the community.

His teachers and classmates were left stunned after police revealed Potts isn't actually a teenager - but a 23-year-old Ukrainian national.

He had been masquerading as a schoolboy for four years because his visa had run out, and managed to achieve stunning credentials while doing so.

State Rep. Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg, tweeted a photo with "Asher Potts" in May 2014. The tweet said Samarin had a 4.16 grade point average and was joining the National Honor Society. The photo was hashtagged, "#goingplaces."

Harrisburg School District Public Relations Coordinator Kirsten Keys said district officials are cooperating with police.

"While we do not know all of the details surrounding the arrest, we are treating this as a serious matter. At this time, the investigation is in the hands of the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. The district will continue to cooperate fully with the police department as they move forward with their investigation," Keys said in a statement.

Samarin was booked on charges including theft, identity theft and tampering with public records.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

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