Illegal alien guilty of stealing U.S. citizen’s identity

HOUSTON – A 42-year-old Mexican national has entered a guilty plea to using the identity of a U.S. citizen to fraudulently obtain a passport and identification, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Carlos Bedolla Sanchez, who illegally resided in Houston, admitted to making a false statement in application and use of passport and aggravated identity theft. 

On May 19, 2022, Sanchez attempted to renew an expired passport he received in 2009 using the identity of a Puerto Rican-born U.S. citizen. As part of the identity theft, he provided the name, Social Security number, date of birth and birthplace on the passport applications and fraudulently certified he was a citizen or non-citizen national of the United States. 

“Nearly everyone knows somebody who has had their identity stolen, or perhaps has even been a victim themselves,” said Ganjei. “The theft of identity for financial gain is bad enough, but stealing a person’s identity to make other fraudulent identification documents raises tremendous public safety and national security concerns. Let this case be a warning to those with ideas similar to Mr. Sanchez.”

The investigation revealed Sanchez began using the victim’s identity in approximately March 2009 to obtain state driver’s licenses and other U.S. identification, including a passport. 

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison accepted the plea and set sentencing for June 3. At that time, Sanchez faces up to 10 years imprisonment for the false statement conviction as well as another two-year mandatory term of imprisonment for aggravated identity theft which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. 

He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. 

Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Franklyn prosecuted the case.