Angolan National Pleads Guilty To Identity Theft

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX:  (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Lorena Midia, 33, most recently a resident of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and a native of Angola, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny to aggravated identity theft. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Rogowski, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant applied for a United States Passport on October 29, 2010, at the Buffalo Passport Office Agency. Midia fraudulently claimed to a United States citizen named Tabitha Humber by presenting a social security card, New York State birth certificate, and New York State Benefit ID Card issued in the name of Humber. After being indicted, Midia was arrested in Toronto by Canadian authorities on August 1, 2013 and formal extradition proceedings led to the defendant being brought to the United States for prosecution. 

The conviction is the result of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the United States Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, under the Direction of Special Agent In-Charge William Ferrari, and the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Edward Ryan.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 24, 2015 before Judge Skretny.