Colombian Man Sentenced to Prison for Misuse of a Social Security Number and Aggravated Identity Theft

DAVENPORT, Iowa — On Thursday, March 25, 2021, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Jefren Moreno Godoy, age 39, a Columbian citizen, to 36 months in prison for Misuse of a Social Security Number and Aggravated Identity Theft announced Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal. Upon release from prison, Godoy will be deported, but was ordered to serve one year of supervised release if he returns to the United States. Godoy was also ordered to pay $200 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

The investigation revealed Godoy was convicted in 2014 of several residential burglaries in Scott County. Godoy gave the name and social security number of a United States citizen when arrested and prosecuted for burglary and continued to use that identity. Upon release to a half-way house in Davenport, Godoy provided the same false identification and social security number. On or about March 15, 2018, Godoy escaped. He was apprehended in December of 2019 in the State of Washington and was returned to the Southern District of Iowa to face federal charges.

This matter was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Southern District of Iowa.