MEXICAN WOMAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR IMMIGRATION RELATED FRAUD

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Maria Victoria Borja-Avila, 47, of the country of Mexico, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for aggravated identify theft, falsely representing U.S. citizenship, and false statement in application for passport. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This illegal alien tried to lie, cheat, and steal her way into unlawfully remaining in the U.S., but thanks to the investigative work of our federal law enforcement partners she’ll now face the consequences of breaking our laws. This successful prosecution is yet another step toward fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by robustly enforcing our immigration laws.”

Court documents reflect that in August of 2023, the defendant submitted a passport application in-person at the Santa Rosa County Clerk’s Office. Upon processing, the application was denied due to indicators of fraud. An investigation uncovered that the defendant submitted the passport application using someone else’s identity. The documents submitted during the application process were possessed unlawfully. The defendant was unlawfully present in the United States.

“The Diplomatic Security Service is committed to protecting the integrity of the U.S. passport and bringing to justice those who seek to exploit the U.S. travel system,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan McSeveney of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office. “Our special agents work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement partners to detect and stop fraud when criminals attempt to unlawfully obtain and use passports. DSS continues to play a critical role in the United States’ efforts to protect the integrity of U.S. borders and prevent illegal immigration."

The sentence was the result of an investigation by the Diplomatic Security Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.