United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

Dallas Police Officer and Wife Arraigned on Nine Count Federal Indictment
With Passport, Immigration and Visa Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

Two individuals involved in obtaining and using a fraudulent United States passport, as well as other immigration fraud, visa fraud, and identity theft related charges were arraigned today in Dallas. The charges were outlined in a nine count federal indictment returned by a grand jury in Fort Worth last week and later unsealed, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. Jose Luis Cabrera, and his wife Moraima Carrette de Cabrera, of Rowlett, Texas, were arrested on Friday, November 17, 2006 and appeared later that day for their initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge. At their initial appearance, both defendants were ordered detained pending a detention hearing and arraignment set for Monday, November 20, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.

At the detention hearing, evidence was presented to determine if either defendant posed a risk of non-appearance for court proceedings and/or might pose a danger to any person or to the community. At the detention hearing, evidence was presented that a search warrant of the defendant’s home in Rowlett, Texas was executed on Friday morning, November 17, 2006. Government agents testified that both defendants gave written statements following their arrests. Officer Cabrera admitted in his statement that he was guilty of all five counts of the indictment in which he was charged and wanted to cooperate. As alleged in Counts 6-9 of the indictment, Officer Cabrera admitted to agents that during the period from April of 2004 through December of 2005, he made several false statements in various immigration and visa forms, and committed aggravated identity theft. On the issue of Cabrera’s danger to the community, Officer Ron Pettie of the Dallas Police Department also testified that Officer Cabrera had been disciplined for three separate incidents in December 2004 that involved Office Cabrera losing his temper and threatening others. Two of these incidents involved fellow police officers. Officer Pettie testified that Officer Cabrera’s record showed a tendency for Officer Cabrera to become violent when in a stressful situation. Other agents testified that Officer Cabrera admitted to being with his wife Moraima when she unlawfully removed $50,000 of US currency from the United States to Mexico. The agent testified that such secret removal of large amounts of currency is a felony offense and a violation of customs laws. The government urged the Court to detain Officer Cabrera because Cabrera was a flight risk due to his family ties in Colombia. The government also argued that Cabrera was a danger to the community due to the stress caused by the new indictment which would almost certainly result in the end of Officer Cabrera’s police career, as well as the likelihood of going to prison. The government also urged that Moraima Cabrera be detained due to her illegal status, immigration detainer, and her past receipt of tens of thousands of dollars from a friend which could be used to finance her escape.

Following the presentation of evidence, United States Magistrate Judge Paul Stickney ordered Officer Cabrera released on his own promise to appear at future court proceedings. Officer Cabrera was also ordered to surrender his passport, wear an electronic monitoring device, not possess any firearms, as well as agree to travel restrictions. Judge Stickney ordered defendant Moraima Cabrera detained pending further court proceedings.

After the detention hearings, both defendants were arraigned and entered pleas of not guilty to all charges in the indictment. Trial for both defendants was scheduled for Monday, January 22, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. before United States District Judge Ed Kinkeade.

Specifically, the indictment charges Dallas Police Department officer Jose Luis Cabrera, age 37, in five counts in the indictment. In addition to the Count 1 conspiracy charge, Cabrera was also charged in Count 6 with making a false statement on immigration form I-130; in Count 7 with false use of a social security number; in Count 8 with making a false statement on immigration form I-864; and in Count 9 with aggravated identity theft. His wife, Moraima Carrette de Cabrera, age 34, was also charged in seven counts of the indictment. In addition to the Count 1 conspiracy charge, Ms. Cabrera was also charged in Count 2 with fraudulently obtaining a Texas driver license; in Count 3 with making a false statement to obtain a United States passport; in Count 4 with making a false claim of United States citizenship; in Count 7 with false use of a social security number; and in Count 9 with aggravated identity theft.

The conspiracy count charges that during the period from April 2002 through March of 2006, the defendants conspired to unlawfully possess and use another person’s identity to commit fraud, made false statements in passport applications, falsely represented U.S. citizenship, falsely represented that a Social Security account number was assigned to Ms. Cabrera and committed fraud in connection with the application for or later use of a United States visa.

Part of the conspiracy involved Ms. Cabrera obtaining a birth certificate and Social Security card in the name of Rita Julissa Cabella. These documents were later fraudulently used to help her fraudulently assume the false alias identity of Rita Julissa Cabello. This false identity was later used to fraudulently obtain a Texas driver license in the name of Rita Julissa Cabello using Ms. Cabrera’s photograph. Ms. Cabrera later used this fraudulent drivers license in May of 2002 to fraudulently obtain a U.S. passport in the false alias name of Rita Julissa Cabello. False statements and representations on a passport application and supporting document were also made in order to fraudulently cause the U.S. State Department to issue a passport bearing the photograph of Moraima a Carrete de Cabrera but issued in the false alias of Rita Julissa Cabello.

As alleged in the indictment, in March of 2004, the defendants were married. While traveling with her police officer husband, Ms. Cabrera used her fraudulent passport on April 14, 2004 to re-enter the United States at Miami, Florida. On April 19, 2004, officer Cabrera fraudulently concealed this trip when he filed immigration papers on behalf of Ms. Cabrera. On December 23, 2005, officer Cabrera again filed immigration and visa related documents containing false information. The aggravated identity theft charge occurred on this same date when the defendants used a false social security number as a means of identification related to the commission of the fraud and misuse of visas.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted on all charges, the defendants face maximum statutory sentences of: Jose Luis Cabrera - 42 years and a $1,250,000 fine; and Moraima Carrette de Cabrera - 50 years and a $1,750,000 fine.

United States Attorney Roper commended the joint investigative efforts of the U.S. State Department - Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General - Office of Investigation and the Dallas Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Jarvis.

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