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Press Release

Salvadoran National Charged with Passport Fraud and Identity Theft

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A Salvadoran national residing in Worcester was charged in federal court in Worcester yesterday with passport fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Neemias Pacheco-Santamaria, 33, was charged with one count of passport fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He appeared in federal court in Worcester yesterday and was ordered detained.

According to the charging document, in July 2018, Pacheco-Santamaria entered a Worcester Post Office and falsely used the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of a United States citizen from Puerto Rico to apply for a United States Passport. It is alleged that Pacheco-Santamaria committed aggravated identity theft by using the Social Security number of another person when submitting a false application for a passport.

The charge of passport fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Boston Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

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

Updated February 20, 2019

Topic
Identity Theft