BOSTON - A Lawrence man was arrested yesterday and charged in federal court in Boston with one count of passport fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, “John Doe," whose true identity and age are presently unknown, applied for a passport at a Lawrence Post Office in November 2014, purporting to be a U.S. citizen. On the application, he represented that the name, Social Security number, and date of birth of a Puerto Rican man were his. The defendant supported the application with a Puerto Rican birth certificate and Massachusetts driver’s license in the name of the U.S. citizen. It is further alleged that the defendant committed aggravated identity theft in connection with the passport application.
The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of passport fraud provides for no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised released, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna Nuzum of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
