Citizen of Ecuador Pleads Guilty to Passport Fraud

CONCORD, N.H. – Einstin Antonio Cantos, a 39-year-old citizen of Ecuador, has pleaded guilty to passport fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.

According to court documents filed, in December 2005, Cantos completed an application for a U.S. passport using the name, date of birth, social security number, and other personal identifying information that belong to a United States citizen, “J.S.” The application was submitted to the National Passport Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with passport-sized photographs of Cantos and a certified copy of J.S.’s birth certificate. Relying on the information in the application and the supporting documentation, the Passport Center issued a U.S. passport to Cantos in J.S.’s name.

On March 1, 2013, Cantos completed an application for a U.S. Passport Card, using J.S.’s name and personal identifying information. Relying on the information provided in this application, on March 7, 2013, the National Passport Center issued a U.S. Passport Card in J.S.’s name to Cantos. Law enforcement officers later located the true J.S. and learned that Cantos was the individual who was using the identity of J.S.

Cantos will be sentenced by United States District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty on December 11, 2017.

The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Kinsella is prosecuting the case.