BOSTON - A citizen of the Dominican Republic pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to passport fraud and identity theft.
Alvaro Luis Soto-Martinez, 31, a Dominican national who was residing in Hyde Park, Mass., pleaded guilty to one count of passport fraud, one count of misuse of a social security number, and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for August 8, 2017.
On Oct. 15, 2014, Soto-Martinez entered a Lowell post office and used the name, date of birth, and social security number of a United States citizen from Puerto Rico to apply for a United States passport.
The charge of passport fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of misuse of a social security number provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other imposed term of imprisonment. Soto-Martinez will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and David W. Hall, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
