Montes Gets 5 Years in Puerto Rican ID Theft Ring

SHERMAN, TX – Another cog in a sophisticated Puerto Rican identity theft operation has landed in federal prison. Luigi Montes, 33, of Houston, was sentenced to 60 months behind bars on June 28, 2013, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to submit false statements to the U.S. Postal Service and false claims to the Internal Revenue Service. U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone also ordered Montes to fork over $50,381 in restitution to the IRS – a pittance, perhaps, considering the scale of the fraud.

The scheme, uncovered by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the IRS Criminal Investigation division, involved the creation of false identities and the establishment of private mail boxes (PMBs) across East Texas and beyond. These PMBs weren’t for legitimate correspondence; they were drop points for fraudulent tax refund checks made out in the names of unsuspecting Puerto Rican citizens. Montes and his crew weren’t looking for a handout; they were systematically stealing refunds that didn’t belong to them.

Montes wasn’t working alone. A federal indictment, returned on March 15, 2012, named six individuals involved in the conspiracy. The Grimy Times has been tracking this case since the beginning, and the sentencing of Montes marks a significant, though not complete, resolution. Lupe Mendoza, 31, of Houston, received 15 months and was ordered to pay $31,270 in restitution. Tania Estafania Aguilar Gomez, 25, of Dallas, got 10 months and a $22,268 restitution order. Rosalba Gomez, 47, of Dallas, received a relatively light five-month sentence.

The penalties escalated for those playing larger roles. David Gomez, 22, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison on November 29, 2012. Joana Gomez, 50, of Balch Springs, Texas, received five months. While these sentences offer some measure of justice, they barely scratch the surface of the financial damage inflicted on the victims and the IRS.

Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Andrew Williams prosecuted the case, piecing together the complex web of false identities and fraudulent claims. This wasn’t a spontaneous crime; it was a calculated, organized effort to exploit the system and line the pockets of the perpetrators. The investigation continues, and the Grimy Times will remain vigilant in exposing these schemes and holding those responsible accountable.

The use of PMBs to facilitate tax fraud is a recurring problem, and authorities are urging citizens to be wary of unsolicited tax preparers and to report any suspicious activity. This case serves as a stark reminder that identity theft is a serious crime with real consequences – both for the victims and for those who engage in it.