Fake ID Lands Iowa Worker Four Months in Federal Prison

SIOUX CITY, IA – Miguel Angel Prieto-Soto, a 33-year-old Mexican national, is headed to federal prison after admitting to using forged documents to gain employment in Hull, Iowa. The sentence, handed down May 31, 2019, underscores the federal government’s continued crackdown on immigration-related fraud.

Prieto-Soto pleaded guilty on April 12, 2019, to one count of unlawful use of identification documents. The investigation revealed he’d shelled out $200 to an individual in Omaha, Nebraska, for a counterfeit Permanent Resident Alien card and a bogus Social Security card. What made the scheme particularly brazen? Prieto-Soto used his real name on both fake IDs, a detail that ultimately contributed to his capture.

According to court documents, Prieto-Soto presented the fabricated documents to Bliek’s Custom Fab in Hull, successfully securing a job. This wasn’t a simple paperwork error; it was a deliberate attempt to circumvent federal immigration laws and profit from illegal employment. ICE agents, working in conjunction with the Enforcement and Removal Office, quickly zeroed in on the case.

United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Prieto-Soto to four months’ imprisonment in Sioux City. But the punishment doesn’t end there. Following his release, Prieto-Soto will be subject to a one-year term of supervised release, meaning his activities will be closely monitored by federal authorities. This case serves as a stark warning: attempting to bypass immigration laws with fraudulent documents carries serious consequences.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on evidence gathered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The investigation highlights the collaborative efforts of various federal agencies to combat immigration-related crimes. Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, case file number 19-CR-04016.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa continues to prioritize cases involving fraud and illegal re-entry. Follow them on Twitter at @USAO_NDIA for the latest updates on federal crime enforcement in the state.