Avniel Awan Anthony Gets 6 Years for Passport Fraud

Avniel Awan Anthony, 40, a former resident of Arlington, Texas, is headed to federal prison for six years after pleading guilty to a federal passport fraud charge. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor, marks the end of a manhunt that spanned years and crossed international borders.

Anthony was arrested April 14, 2016, by the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) after fleeing to Playa de Carmen, Mexico. He had been a fugitive wanted not only for passport fraud but also for identity theft, evading police, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. His capture followed months of coordination between U.S. and Mexican authorities, including local tourist police and immigration officials.

Court documents show that in October 2013, Anthony submitted a passport application at the U.S. Post Office on E. Bardin Road in Arlington, falsely claiming his name was “Dominic Dewayne Wilson.” He backed the application with a Texas ID card bearing that false name and his photograph, and he swore under penalty of perjury that the information was truthful—knowing full well it was not.

The fraud was part of a broader effort to vanish. Anthony, a convicted felon, changed his identity and fled the country to avoid prosecution. For years, he lived under the radar in Mexico until DSS agents tracked him down in March 2016. His attempt to rewrite his identity unraveled the moment he tried to obtain a U.S. passport under false pretenses.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Michael Worley in the Northern District of Texas. Authorities emphasized that passport fraud is not a victimless crime—it undermines national security, facilitates other criminal activity, and enables fugitives to escape justice. Anthony’s 72-month sentence reflects the seriousness with which federal prosecutors treat such offenses.

DSS, the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of State, operates in over 160 countries and routinely works with domestic agencies like the U.S. Marshals Service to track down American fugitives abroad. Anthony’s capture and conviction serve as a stark reminder: no matter how far you run, federal agents will follow the paper trail—and bring you back in chains.