Charges Brought Against Man for Possession of a
Fraudulent Immigration Document

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Fraudulent Immigration Document and Use of Immigration Document not Lawfully Issued.

Ismael Morales-Montero, age 28, was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 19, 2011, for Possession of a Fraudulent Immigration Document and Use of Immigration Document Not Lawfully Issued. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on January 21, 2011, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for Possession of a Fraudulent Immigration Document and 5 years and a $250,000 fine for Use of Immigration Document Not Lawfully Issued. The charge is merely an accusation, and Morales-Montero is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by ICE, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Mandel is prosecuting the case. Morales-Montero was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.