Illegal Alien Convicted of Using Another Person’s Social Security Number and Fraudulent “Green Card” to Get a Job

A Mexican man who used another person’s social security number and a fraudulent “green card” to get a job was convicted by a jury on November 28, 2018, after a one-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Luis Gonzalez-Esparsa, age 45, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Cascade, Iowa, was convicted of one count of unlawful use of an identification document and one count of misuse of a social security number.  The verdict was returned following about one hour of jury deliberations.

The evidence at trial showed that on June 14, 2018, Gonzalez-Esparsa used someone else’s social security number on employment and tax documents when applying for work in Peosta, Iowa.  He also used a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” to claim he was legally present and authorized to work in the United States.  The Alien Registration number on the “green card” had been issued to another person, a female from Mexico.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Gonzalez-Esparsa was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing.  Gonzalez-Esparsa faces a possible maximum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.  Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/.  The case file number is 18-CR-1035. 

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