Montgomery, Alabama - Noemi Vasquez, 39 years old, along with Raul Castro-Morales and Wilfredo Cheverria-Funez, all of Montgomery, Alabama, pled guilty in federal court on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 to aggravated identity theft, illegal production of an identification card, and counterfeiting a social security card, announced U.S. Attorney George L. Beck, Jr.
In January of 2012, Noemi Vasquez worked at a company that used the federal E-Verify system. E-Verify is a federal internet-based program which allows an employer to determine if a prospective employee is authorized to work in the United States. Vasquez used her position at this company to access the E-Verify system and obtain biographical information of Hispanic males This information included name, citizenship status, date of birth, and place of birth.
As part of the scheme, Vasquez would pull an E-Verify report of a person that was of similar height, weight and age as an undocumented alien seeking employment. Vasquez would then sell the E-Verify report to the undocumented alien for $300 and provide him with Cheverria-Funez’ contact information to obtain the illegal identification documents. Cheverria-Funez would then introduce the undocumented alien to Raul Castro-Morales who would create false social security and identification cards for an additional fee.
If convicted, Vasquez, Cheverria-Funez, and Castro-Morales face sentences of not less than two years, and not more than 15 years of incarceration with the Bureau of Prisons. They further face up to five years of supervised release, a fine of not more than $250,000, and payment of restitution to the victims. Cheverria-Funez and Castro-Morales also face deportation after conviction and service of sentence.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Redmond.
PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
Email: usaalm.press@usdoj.gov
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-7617
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
