Dominican National Charged With Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity Fraud

BOSTON - A Dominican national was charged in District Court in Springfield yesterday with conspiracy and aggravated identity fraud.

Sandro Tavera Mora, 45, formerly of Springfield, was charged in a superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy to possess and transfer fraudulent identification documents and one count of aggravated identity theft, in addition to the charges in the original indictment: one count of false personation of a U.S. Citizen and one count of fraud and misuse of visas.  Tavera Mora was initially charged in March.

As alleged in the superseding indictment, Tavera Mora falsely and willfully represented himself to be a citizen of the United States.  It is also alleged that he possessed an altered United States non-immigrant visa and numerous identification documents not belonging to him.  Tavera Mora is alleged to have obtained numerous false Puerto Rican identification documents to commit identity fraud and misuse of a visa.  It is alleged that between April and June 2014, he engaged in a conspiracy to distribute false identification documents to others.

The maximum sentence for false personation of a U.S. Citizen is three years in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The maximum sentence for theft and misuse of a visa is five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.  The maximum sentence for conspiracy count is 15 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.  If convicted of identity theft, Tavera Mora faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence he receives.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today.  The case is being prosecuted by Kevin O’Regan, Chief of Ortiz’s Springfield branch office and Marianne Shelvey, Trial Attorney with the United States Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Organized Crime and Gang Section.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.