NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MARIO MATEO TOMAS JOSE, a native of Mexico, pleaded guilty today to illegally using a social security number to qualify for employment, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).
MARIO MATEO TOMAS JOSE ( “TOMAS JOSE" ) faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than five (5) years followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Sentencing is set for Feb. 23, 2023.
According to court documents, on March 29, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations received information that certain individuals had used fraudulent Social Security cards in an initial application to obtain employment. Prior to finalizing employment with their prospective company, the individuals had to report to the Gulf Coast Safety Council, which provides safety courses to applicants applying for work with companies servicing petrochemical processing plants. On March 30, 2022, TOMAS JOSE arrived at the Gulf Coast Safety Council office in St. Rose, Louisiana to complete the safety course to finalize his employment with Company “A." On that day, TOMAS JOSE presented a fraudulent United States Social Security card bearing the name and United States Social Security number of a United States citizen, which he represented to be his own, in order to obtain employment.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon M. Maestri is in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
