Massachusetts Woman Charged With Passport And Identity Fraud

PHILADELPHIA - Altagracia Arias, 60, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was charged by indictment, filed today, with passport fraud, use of a fraudulently obtained passport, and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. 

According to the indictment, between November of 2008 and February of 2016, Arias used a United States passport which she had obtained through false statements on her passport application.  She allegedly ARIAS used the name of another individual (“A.S.”), stated that she was born in Puerto Rico and was, therefore, a U.S. citizen, and gave a Social Security Number that was not hers.  

If convicted of all charges, Arias faces a mandatory minimum term of two years in prison for the identity theft with a maximum statutory sentence of 32 years in prison, a possible fine, a $400 special assessment, and up to three years of supervised release. 

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney V. Paige Pratter.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.