Jose Alberto Santos-Montalvan, 42, a citizen of Honduras, has pleaded guilty to illegally using a Social Security number not issued to him, according to federal court records in Louisiana. The charge, a violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B), carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and a $250,000 fine.
Court documents reveal Santos-Montalvan used the stolen Social Security number to enroll in a mandatory safety training course—an essential step before he could begin work for a local construction company. The course was required for access to multiple job sites across the region, allowing him to bypass identity verification systems using false credentials.
The fraud was uncovered during a routine audit by federal authorities, who flagged the mismatch between the Social Security number and the identity of the individual using it. That triggered an investigation led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which traced the number to no legitimate association with Santos-Montalvan.
Santos-Montalvan now faces sentencing on June 7, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon. In addition to potential prison time, he is subject to a mandatory special assessment of $100.00 and could be ordered to pay restitution. A term of up to three years of supervised release may follow any prison term.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans commended Homeland Security’s investigative work, underscoring the seriousness of identity misuse in employment contexts. ‘The integrity of federal identification systems is not optional,’ Evans stated. ‘Those who exploit them for personal gain will be prosecuted.’
Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis is leading the prosecution. The case highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in workforce verification systems and the federal government’s tightening scrutiny on identity fraud tied to undocumented employment.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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