A Guatemalan national living illegally in the United States has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and making false statements related to a fraudulent attempt to sponsor an unaccompanied minor. Felix Coc Choc, 29, from Rogers, Arkansas, admitted to submitting a false application under penalty of perjury to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in order to obtain custody of a 16-year-old Guatemalan unaccompanied alien child.
Court documents show that after the minor entered the U.S. illegally in January 2023, Coc Choc claimed on his sponsorship application that he was the child's brother, identified as J.C.J. He also provided ORR with J.C.J.’s Guatemalan identification card and birth certificate as supporting documents. Initially denying any misuse of another person’s identity, Coc Choc later admitted to impersonating J.C.J. and subsequently submitted an application under his real name. The ORR denied both applications due to fraud.
Coc Choc pleaded guilty to one count each of making a false statement and aggravated identity theft. He faces up to five years in prison for the false statement charge and a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date by a federal district court judge who will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other legal factors.
The case is being investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) teams based in Guatemala and Washington, D.C., as well as ORR staff.
Prosecution is led by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) Trial Attorneys Aaron Jennen and Nicole Lockhart along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana. Additional support comes from Samantha Usher from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and prosecutors from the Western District of Arkansas.
JTFA coordinates efforts between the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to investigate human smuggling, trafficking, and related immigration crimes involving organized crime groups across North America and beyond. The task force draws resources from multiple agencies including ICE/HSI, CBP, FBI, and others. According to government figures, JTFA’s operations have led to over 440 arrests domestically and internationally for leaders or facilitators involved in smuggling or trafficking activities; more than 390 convictions; over 330 significant jail sentences; and substantial asset forfeitures.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which brings together Department of Justice resources through programs like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods to address illegal immigration, dismantle transnational criminal organizations, and enhance community safety.
"
