Honduran Man Sentenced for Illegally Using Social Security Number

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on February 22, 2024, HENRY EDGARDO ORTIZ, age 44, was sentenced to three years’ probation for illegally using a social security number, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).

According to court documents, ORTIZ, using the name of another individual, applied for a Louisiana Identification Card, issued on May 4, 2018. He applied to a Jefferson Parish Office of Motor Vehicles facility, using the social security number of another individual. The Social Security Administration confirmed that the number had been issued to another individual in Puerto Rico.

In February 2022, ORTIZ, appeared at the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s office to apply for a diversion status on an unrelated charge that he faced. When he presented a Honduran passport, in his own name, to the District Attorney’s office diversion department, they became suspicious and contacted the Department of Homeland Security. After the Department of Homeland Security investigated ORTIZ‘s Louisiana driver’s license paperwork, his fraudulent use of a social security number was revealed. 

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.