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CONCORD - Grency Junior Nunez Barrera, 32, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to aggravated identity theft, social security fraud, and making false statements, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Nunez Barrera illegally entered the United States in 2009 and obtained identification documents of an American citizen from Puerto Rico, including a forged birth certificate and social security card. From 2009 through 2018, Nunez Barrera assumed that person’s identity. During that time, among other things, Nunez Barrera worked and was charged with other crimes using the victim’s identity. In 2010, Nunez Barrera used the victim’s identity to obtain a New Hampshire driver’s license. He later used the victim’s information to obtain a social security number.
In 2015, Nunez Barrera was arrested while using the victim’s identity to renew the New Hampshire driver’s license he obtained in 2010. In February 2018, Nunez Barrera again traveled to the Division of Motor Vehicles in Concord, New Hampshire and applied for a replacement driver’s license using the victim’s name, date of birth, and social security number. The DMV flagged the application and Nunez Barrera was subsequently arrested. Upon his arrest for federal charges, Nunez Barrera again falsely identified himself as the victim to the U.S. Marshals and, as proof, provided the victim’s social security number.
Nunez Barrera is scheduled to be sentenced on February 11, 2019. He faces possible deportation to the Dominican Republic following the completion of his sentence.
“Identity theft is a serious crime that can cause substantial harm to its victims,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “It can often be very challenging for victims of identity theft and clear up financial or criminal issues that result from this crime. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit identity theft or obtain false identification documents.”
Scott Antolik, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Boston Field Division for the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General said, “Nunez Barrera misused the social security number of an innocent person and caused that individual considerable damage. I thank the New Hampshire State Police and the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement, Manchester, NH Office for their assistance in bringing Barrera to justice and keeping our communities safe. For more information, check out the OIG’s Identity Theft page. The Department of Justice estimates 17 million people each year become victims of identity theft. We hope you aren’t one of them, but if you are, this information should help.”
This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the New Hampshire State Police, and U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.
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