Contract Worker Pleads Guilty to Using Fraudulent TWIC Card to Attempt to Gain Access to Sulphur Facility

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a contract worker pleaded guilty to using a fraudulent facility access pass to attempt to gain entrance into a Sulphur, La., petrochemical facility.

Cristobal Vargas Zambrano, 32, a contract worker at a Sulphur facility, entered a conditional guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay for one count of fraudulent use or possession of an official pass.  The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter. According to the guilty plea, Zambrano used a fraudulent transportation worker identification credential (TWIC) on August 14, 2014, to attempt to gain access to Westlake Petrochemicals in Sulphur. Westlake Petrochemicals is a Transportation Security Act regulated facility and workers must present a TWIC card to gain access.

Zambrano faces up to five years in prison, three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of June 29, 2015 was set.

The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth is prosecuting the case.