United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

CONVICTED FELON SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR FALSELY CLAIMING TO BE U.S. CITIZEN

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEJANDRO GARCIA SILVA, 46, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Meriden, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for falsely claiming to be a United States citizen.  SILVA pleaded guilty to the offense on June 8, 2010.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2009, SILVA was in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Correction under an assumed identity.  However, a fingerprint check revealed SILVA’s true identity and that he was a previously deported Mexican citizen.  SILVA was then transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) where he continued to fail to acknowledge his true identity.  While in ICE custody, SILVA arranged for an associate to bring a social security card, a Texas birth certificate, and a Connecticut State Identification card, all in the name of his assumed identity.  SILVA eventually admitted his true identity, and that he had purchased the social security card and birth certificate at a flea market in Texas.

Subsequent investigation revealed that SILVA had been deported from the U.S. in 2001 following numerous criminal convictions, including one for attempted sexual assault and six for driving under the influence.  SILVA returned to the United States and, while residing in Connecticut between 2004 and 2007, he was convicted of multiple felonies, including second degree assault.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David E. Novick.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov