Salvadoran National Sentence for Passport Fraud

BOSTON – A Salvadoran national residing in Worcester was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for passport fraud.

Neemias Pacheco-Santamaria, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 13 months in prison and will face deportation upon completion of his sentence. Pacheco-Santamaria pleaded guilty in June 2019 to knowingly making false statements in applying for a U.S. passport. 

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. 

The charge of passport fraud provides for a sentence of up to10 years in prison, three years 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, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.