Theresa Wood Sentenced for Passport Fraud Scheme

Theresa Wood lied to the U.S. government to secure a passport for her child using stolen identity information—and she got caught. In a federal courtroom in New Orleans, Wood pleaded guilty to making false statements on a passport application, a felony under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1542. Her deception didn’t just involve paperwork—it involved recruiting a co-worker to impersonate the child’s father in front of a notary.

U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon handed down a one-year probation sentence for the crime, avoiding prison time but cementing Wood’s status as a convicted felon. In addition to probation, Judge Fallon ordered 25 hours of community service—a slap on the wrist compared to the potential penalties for passport fraud, which can include up to 10 years behind bars and steep fines.

According to court documents signed by Wood, she submitted an application for her minor child using identifying details belonging to another individual. The scheme required coordination: she convinced a co-worker—someone who bore a resemblance to the actual father—to falsely claim paternity during the notarized signing process. That document was then submitted to the U.S. Department of State, triggering a federal investigation.

Passport fraud isn’t a victimless crime. It undermines national security, enables identity theft, and opens doors for human trafficking, smuggling, and other transnational criminal activity. The Department of State doesn’t take kindly to forged applications—especially when adults weaponize children in elaborate identity scams.

The case was investigated by the United States Diplomatic Security Service, the law enforcement arm of the State Department tasked with protecting diplomatic integrity and rooting out passport and visa fraud. Their probe exposed the ruse, leading to Wood’s arrest and eventual guilty plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. prosecuted the case, with U.S. Attorney Duane Evans commending the investigative team for shutting down the scheme. While Wood avoided incarceration, her criminal record will follow her for life—a permanent stain for trying to game the system.

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