Man Pleads Guilty To Misuse of Social Security Number

NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that RAYMUNDO DE LA PAZ (DE LA PAZ), age 27, pled guilty on January 9, 2020 before United States District Court Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon,  to a one-count bill of information charging him with misuse of a Social Security Number, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).

According to court documents, DE LA PAZ, a citizen of Mexico, presented a false Social Security card when attending a pre-employment safety class at the Gulf Coast Safety Council in St. Rose, Louisiana.  DE LA PAZ falsely represented that a social security number was assigned to him when in fact, the social security number had been assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security to another individual.

 DE LA PAZ faces a possible sentence up to five (5) years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 and one (1) year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.  United States District Court Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon set sentencing for  March 19, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Peter G.  Strasser praised the work of the United States Border Patrol and the Office of  Inspector General, Social Security Administration.  Assistant United States Attorney Julia K. Evans is in charge of the prosecution.