Mexican Man Sentenced to 10 Months for False Representation of a Social Security Number

United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that on April 10, 2024, Emmanuel Hurtado-Vargas, 36, of Mexico, was sentenced in federal court for false representation of a social security number. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Hurtado-Vargas to 10 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Hurtado-Vargas will be required to complete a 3-year term of supervised release. Hurtado-Vargas will be removed (deported) by immigration authorities after he completes his term of imprisonment.

Hurtado-Vargas was working under an assumed name as a member of the workforce at Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. (PSSI). In April of 2013, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigators received information that several people working at PSSI provided fraudulent documents to secure employment. Hurtado-Vargas was one of those found to have secured employment at PSSI using a social security number belonging to a victim who had filed an identity theft complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Specifically, Hurtado-Vargas used identity documents to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, including a fraudulent social security card (displaying the victim’s true name and social security number) and an identification card falsely purporting to have been issued in Kansas.

Hurtado-Vargas was released from custody and placed on pretrial supervision in 2013 after his initial court appearance. He later failed to appear at a change of plea hearing scheduled for October 8, 2013, and a warrant for his arrest was issued. Hurtado-Vargas remained in fugitive status until he was arrested on November 17, 2023.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.