Illegal Immigrant Pleads Guilty To Aggravated Identity Theft

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Jose Gerardo Mejia-Rangel (41, Dade City) has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. He previously pleaded guilty in a separate case to illegally reentering the United States. Mejia-Rangel faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for illegal reentry and a mandatory, consecutive two-year prison sentence for aggravated identity theft. His sentencing hearing is set for January 23, 2018.  

According to court documents, Mejia-Rangel, who has been previously deported from the United States at least four times, used a California man’s name, birth certificate, and Social Security number to apply for a state of Florida identification card and driver license. Upon his arrest for domestic battery in July 2017, Mejia-Rangel presented himself under the California man’s identity. He also admitted to using the identity to avoid detection from federal immigration authorities.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.