Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A Mexican national residing in Houston has pleaded guilty to charges related to identity theft and fraudulent document acquisition. Carlos Bedolla Sanchez, 42, admitted to using the identity of a U.S. citizen to secure a passport and other forms of identification illegally, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Sanchez confessed to making false statements in his passport application and committing aggravated identity theft. The incident dates back to May 19, 2022, when he attempted to renew a passport initially obtained in 2009 under the guise of a Puerto Rican-born U.S. citizen. He used the victim's name, Social Security number, date of birth, and birthplace on the applications while falsely claiming citizenship or non-citizen national status.
U.S. Attorney Ganjei highlighted the broader implications of such crimes: “Nearly everyone knows somebody who has had their identity stolen, or perhaps has even been a victim themselves,” he said. “The theft of identity for financial gain is bad enough, but stealing a person’s identity to make other fraudulent identification documents raises tremendous public safety and national security concerns."
Investigations revealed that Sanchez began exploiting the victim's identity around March 2009 for various state driver's licenses and identification documents, including a passport.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison accepted Sanchez's plea and scheduled sentencing for June 3. Sanchez could face up to ten years in prison for the false statement conviction and an additional mandatory two-year term for aggravated identity theft, which must be served consecutively.
Sanchez remains in custody pending sentencing. The Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service conducted the investigation with Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Franklyn prosecuting the case.
