Illegal Alien Convicted Of Purchasing False ID

BOSTON – Former Peabody man found guilty of purchasing false identity documents and receiving unemployment benefits.

Following a three-day trial, Renato de la Cruz, 40, was convicted of theft of public money, use of a falsely obtained Social Security Number, and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Oct. 14, 2014.

De la Cruz, an illegal alien, entered the United States using a false name and purchased identity documents in the name of yet another person. De la Cruz then used the purchased identifying information to obtain a Social Security Number and used the Social Security Number for multiple purposes, including to obtain thousands of dollars of unemployment benefits to which he was not entitled.

De la Cruz faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Cheryl Garcia, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, NY Regional Office; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and Sean Gallagher, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, New England Field Office; made the announcement today. The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Robert E. Richardson and Brian A. Pérez-Daple of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.