U.S. Attorney Timothy Duax | U.S. Department of Justice
A Mexican national residing in Iowa has been sentenced to over five months in federal prison for document fraud. Valentin Munoz-Lopez, 35, pleaded guilty on November 1, 2024, to charges of unlawful use of an identification document and misuse of a social security number.
During his plea, Munoz-Lopez admitted to using a fraudulent Social Security card with an alias name to demonstrate his work authorization in the United States. This occurred when he completed employment and tax forms at a business in Lime Springs, Iowa, in February 2024. The Social Security number on the card was assigned to another individual whose name appeared on it. As an undocumented immigrant, Munoz-Lopez was not authorized to work legally in the U.S.
Additionally, Munoz-Lopez used the fake Social Security card while applying for jobs at businesses in Lime Springs and Cresco, Iowa, during June 2020 and various months in 2022.
The sentencing took place in Cedar Rapids under United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Munoz-Lopez received a sentence of 161 days' imprisonment followed by a two-year term of supervised release. Federal sentences do not allow for parole.
Currently held by the United States Marshal's custody, Munoz-Lopez will be transferred to immigration officials following his prison term.
Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt prosecuted the case which was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement and its Enforcement and Removal Operations division.
