Illegal Alien Who Used Another Person’s Social Security Number Sentenced to Prison

A man who used another person’s Social Security number to get a job and for tax purposes was sentenced today to three months in federal prison.

Alberto Rivera-Ramirez, age 30, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea today to one count of misuse of a social security number.

In a plea agreement, Rivera-Ramirez admitted that on December 14, 2018, he used a fraudulent social security card and a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” on employment forms and state and federal tax forms when applying for work in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  The Social Security account number and the Alien Registration number on the “green card” were issued to other people. 

Immigration officials learned about Rivera-Ramirez’ illegal conduct after he was arrested on June 6, 2019, in Benton County, Iowa, on state criminal charges.  On February 27, 2020, Rivera-Ramirez plead guilty in state court to Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree and was sentenced to 260 days in jail. 

Rivera-Ramirez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Rivera-Ramirez was sentenced to 91 days’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Rivera-Ramirez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 20-CR-24.

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