Texas Woman Sentenced For Lying On A Passport Application

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Valerie Christine Hedd-Johnson, 46, of Garland, Texas, who was convicted of making a false statement in an application for a U.S. passport, was sentenced to time served (13 months) by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth R. Moellering, who handled the case, stated that the defendant applied for a passport in Buffalo, NY in November 2013.  On the application, Johnson indicated that she had never before applied for a U.S. passport.  However, in August 2000, the defendant had applied for a passport in Texas. That application was rejected due to indications of fraud.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Special Agents from the Department of State, Diplomatic Security Services, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Edward J. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge.