Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty To Producing False ID

BOSTON – An illegal alien pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Worcester in connection with a conspiracy to produce false identification documents.

Leonardo Burgos Espinal, 42, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Hillman to conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification documents. In March 2013, Burgos Espinal was charged by information with bribing an employee of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

From January 2011 through June 2012, Burgos would direct his “clients” to present fraudulently obtained, but valid, Puerto Rican identification documents to his co-conspirator at the RMV, who would then issue a valid Massachusetts driver’s license or ID knowing that the Puerto Rican documents belonged to other real people. This plea is the most recent development in investigations involving identity theft and public corruption relating to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Burgos Espinal faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts States Police; made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Eugenia M. Carris of Ortiz’s Public Corruption Unit.