Mexican National Sentenced to Prison for Stealing U.S. Citizen’s Identity
HOUSTON – A 42-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for fraudulently using a passport and identification belonging to a U.S. citizen, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison sentenced Carlos Bedolla Sanchez to a total of 40 months in federal prison. The sentence includes 16 months for fraudulently using a passport and a mandatory consecutive 24 months for aggravated identity theft. Following his imprisonment, Sanchez is expected to face removal proceedings as he is not a U.S. citizen.
According to court documents, Sanchez admitted to using the identity of a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico to obtain various forms of identification. The scheme, which began as early as March 2009, involved Sanchez obtaining state driver’s licenses and a U.S. passport under the victim’s name. On May 19, 2022, he attempted to renew the passport he had originally obtained fraudulently in 2009, falsely certifying his citizenship and submitting the victim’s Social Security number and birth details.
Defense and Legal Context
During the hearing, the court noted that Sanchez’s criminal history under the stolen identity extended beyond document fraud. He had previously been convicted of two felony drug charges while posing as the U.S. citizen, for which he received a concurrent 12-month sentence for violating supervised release. Judge Ellison emphasized that previous penalties had failed to deter Sanchez or foster repentance, citing the seriousness of the identity theft and its potential impact on national security and the victim.
Background on Diplomatic Security
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). The DSS is the federal law enforcement branch responsible for investigating passport and visa fraud, which are often key facilitators for other transnational crimes, including terrorism and human trafficking. This case underscores the agency’s role in protecting the integrity of U.S. travel documents and preventing identity fraud from compromising public safety.
Sanchez will remain in custody pending his transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
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