Julio Cesar Ruiz-Perez, a 21-year-old Mexican citizen residing illegally in Charleston, pleaded guilty to possessing a counterfeit Social Security card with the intent to defraud the United States. He was sentenced to time served on August 14, 2025. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed an immigration detainer on Ruiz-Perez for transfer to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings.
According to court records and statements made during the hearing, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Charleston on April 11, 2025. During the search, officers encountered Ruiz-Perez and confirmed through ICE agents that he is a Mexican citizen without legal status in the United States. Officers discovered a counterfeit Social Security card bearing his name. Authorities stated that Ruiz-Perez did not possess any legal identification documents granting him lawful status and used the fake Social Security card to falsely claim eligibility for employment.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced the plea and sentence, recognizing the investigative efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted as part of a special unit within the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia dedicated to immigration enforcement under Operation Take Back America.
Operation Take Back America is described as a nationwide initiative utilizing resources from agencies such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). The program aims to address illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime.
Additional information about this case can be found by searching Case No. 2:25-cr-86 on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..
