Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Alfredo Mendoza Montero, a 45-year-old Mexican national, has been sentenced to two years and one day in federal prison for crimes including passport fraud, false impersonation of a citizen, and aggravated identity theft. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
According to court records, Montero entered the United States illegally in 2019. He purchased identification documents belonging to an American citizen and used them to apply for a U.S. passport in 2022 and obtain a Florida driver’s license in 2023. Montero lived under the assumed identity in the Pensacola area until his arrest by federal authorities on April 1, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “Thanks to the investigative work of our incredible federal law enforcement partners, this criminal illegal alien will be held accountable for stealing the identity of a U.S. citizen that he used to conceal his unlawful presence in our country. Prison and a swift removal from our country awaits him, and should be a warning to others that violations of our immigration laws will not go unpunished.”
Ryan McSeveney, Acting Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service Miami Field Office, said: “Safeguarding U.S. passports and visas is critical to the Diplomatic Security Service mission and supporting the Trump administration's goal to make America safer. We are firmly committed to prosecuting criminals who misuse U.S. travel documents to commit fraud, further criminal activity, and endanger the security of our nation.”
Acting Inspector General Michelle L. Anderson commented: “This sentencing highlights the seriousness of identity theft, and the extent individuals will go to falsely claim U.S. citizenship to obtain government credentials. By working closely with our law enforcement partners, SSA OIG helped uncover the true victim in this case—a U.S. citizen living in Puerto Rico—who had their identity misused. We remain committed to protecting the integrity of Social Security records and ensuring that those who commit identity-related crimes are brought to justice.”
Nicholas Ingegno, Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge added: “Identity theft is a serious crime that can have devastating, long-lasting effects on the lives of its victims. It is not a victimless crime; it affects real people, causing emotional distress, financial instability, and legal complications that can take years to resolve. HSI is committed to protecting the integrity of U.S. identification systems and safeguarding the personal information of American citizens.”
The investigation was led by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service with support from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations as well as the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia H. Forbes prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), which coordinates Department of Justice resources nationwide against illegal immigration, transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), cartels, and violent crime through programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is among 94 offices serving as principal litigators under direction from the Attorney General; more information can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
