Press Release
Stoughton Man Sentenced for Social Security and Passport Fraud
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts
BOSTON – A Stoughton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for using the identifying information of another person to apply for a driver’s license and United States passport.
Wilfrido Baez Villar, 49, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 18 months’ probation, with the first six months to be served in home confinement. On May 8, 2023, Baez Villar pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number and one count of making a false statement in an application for a passport.
Baez Villar first attempted to enter the United States in December 1994 using an altered passport from the Dominican Republic issued to another individual. The fraud was discovered when he arrived in New York City and Baez Villar thereafter voluntarily returned to the Dominican Republic.
Sometime thereafter, Baez Villar unlawfully reentered the United States. In April 1996, he used the identity of a second victim to fraudulently obtain a Massachusetts driver’s license. In November 1998, he used the identity of a third victim to receive an ID card from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
In December 1998, Baez Villar applied for and received another Massachusetts driver’s license in the name of a fourth victim and, between August 1999 and January 2018, applied for and received a duplicate and/or renewed license in that individual’s name on eight other occasions.
In January 2019, Baez Villar applied for and received a replacement Real ID/Massachusetts driver’s license, again using the fourth victim’s identity. In December 2019, Baez Villar again used the fourth victim’s identity to apply for a United States passport.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Sharon B. MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Regional Office, made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Updated December 11, 2023
Topic
Immigration
Component