Texarkana, TX – In a shocking display of brazen deception, two New York women have been sentenced to federal prison for an illegal counterfeit passport operation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Anna Delgadillo, 37, of Brooklyn, New York, and her accomplice, 30-year-old Lisa Marie Garcia, of Queens, New York, were charged with conspiracy to produce and possess counterfeit passports, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1543. The women’s scheme was uncovered as part of Operation Take Back America, a multi-agency effort aimed at disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations.
According to court documents, Delgadillo and Garcia used sophisticated equipment and software to create counterfeit passports, which they then sold to unsuspecting victims. The passports were often marked with the genuine seal of the U.S. Department of State, adding to their authenticity and making them even more convincing.
The counterfeit passport operation was uncovered in March 2023, when authorities arrested Delgadillo and Garcia in a sting operation in Texarkana, Texas. The women were subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. On April 6, 2024, U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder sentenced Delgadillo to 46 months in federal prison, while Garcia received a sentence of 33 months.
The scheme is estimated to have generated thousands of dollars in revenue for the defendants. Authorities are still working to determine the exact amount of money involved, but it is believed to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs praised the efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved in the operation. ‘This case highlights the importance of our ongoing efforts to combat transnational crime and protect the integrity of our nation’s passport system,’ he said. ‘We will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle these types of operations, and bring those responsible to justice.’
Related Federal Cases
- Izell Mayes, Possession of Counterfeit Credit Cards, La, 2014 · Texas
- Timothy Meacham, Counterfeit Coin Scheme, NY 2024 · Texas
- Mario Argueta-Chun, Trafficking in Counterfeit Identification Docum… · Texas
- David Nichols, Counterfeit Airbag Trafficking, New York 2024 · Texas
- Wall Street Firms, Financial Malfeasance, New York NY, 2023 · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source â†â€â€ÂÂ
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