Undocumented Alien from Mexico Charged with Illegal Use of Social Security Number and False Claim of Citizenship

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that SERGIO GALVEZ-VELAZQUEZ, age 40,  a citizen of Mexico, was charged today in a two-count Indictment with illegal use of a Social Security Number and false claim of citizenship to obtain employment.

According to the Indictment, GALVEZ-VELAZQUEZ illegally obtained a Louisiana Identification Card from the Louisiana DMV office in Houma by using a Social Security number that did not belong to him.   GALVEZ-VELAZQUEZ was also charged with falsely claiming that he was a citizen of the United States on an I-9 employment form in order to gain employment with Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, Louisiana.

If convicted, GALVEZ-VELAZQUEZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of three years, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.

U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that an Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis is in charge of the prosecution.