Dominican Citizen Sentenced to Over Two Years in Prison for Aggrevated Identity Theft

            CONCORD - Grency Junior Nuñez Barrera, 31, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 24 months and one day in prison for 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, Nuñez 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, Nuñez Barrera assumed that person’s identity.  During that time, among other things, Nuñez Barrera worked and was charged with other crimes using the victim’s identity.  In 2010, Nuñez 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, Nuñez Barrera was arrested while using the victim’s identity to renew the New Hampshire driver’s license he obtained in 2010.  In February 2018, Nuñez 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 Nuñez Barrera was subsequently arrested.  Upon his arrest for federal charges, Nuñez Barrera again falsely identified himself as the victim to the U.S. Marshals and, as proof, provided the victim’s social security number.

            Nuñez Barrera previously pleaded guilty on October 30, 2018.  He faces likely deportation to the Dominican Republic after serving his sentence.

            “Identity theft is a serious crime that can have a harmful and lasting impact on its victims,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Victims often must spend countless hours attempting to clear their names, particularly when crimes are committed by those who have stolen their identity.  Those who choose to participate in this crime should understand that their fraudulent conduct will be met with aggressive prosecution and incarceration.”

            “Today’s sentencing demonstrates my office’s commitment to stopping the threats and devastating impacts that American citizens face from identity theft and related crimes,” said Adam D. Schneider, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, Boston Field Division. “Along with our local and federal law enforcement partners, we will continue to target investigations aimed specifically at identifying people who have stolen the identities of others, and we look forward to working with the U.S. Attorney on the successful prosecution of similar cases.”  

            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 was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.

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